THE HEIR OF MARLEIGH.

Bruce Herald, Volume XII, Issue XII, 14 November 1879, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE HEIR OF MARLEIGH.

BY MARGABET WIGHIMAJr. (Author of " Agnes Glen, or the Flower of the Factory;" " Tom Lester's Railway Adventure," &c., &c.) CHAPTER VIII. CHEERING PROSPECTS— EFFIE'S LETTERNEW TRIALS. Had Gavin Murray pronounced sentence of death on his daughter her heart could scarcely have felt more utterly hopeless and miserable than it felt after she had marked his look of joy, and heart his exclamations of satisfaction at the contents of Mr Bell's letter. . . She had hoped, that, plain, simple minded man as he was, the great disparity in age and position between the laird and herself might have seemed to him an insuperable bar, and made hi in refuse his j consent to their union, but his too evident \ h .ppiness at the idea of its possibility aud his consent given even before ifc w;is B»u»ht-, was the overflowing drop' in her cup of sorrow*. "Father, dear father, it's nofc tbat — Tj could never be his wife, ' she replied, in a j choking voice, her emotion overcoming her. for she felt as if it was cruelty to dm ken the ray of hope the letter had called to his heart, and she felt relieved, when a moment after, a loud knocking at the frontdoor afforded her an excuse to leave his presence. She hurried to the door, hastily diying the tears that would come in spite of her efforts, and having openpd it, saw that a boy stood withont, laden with a large parcel, which, after asking if she were the dress-maker, he handed fco her along with a sealed note, and ran off without; giving her time to ask who had sent it. Placing it on the kitchen dresser wifch a glad consciousness thafc the work she had sighed for had come at last, she opened the noie with nervous haste, joyfully surprised to find it was from the lady of a landed proprietor in the neighborhood, who bad sent her four silk dresses to make and who not onl*y offered her sufficient work at making ancl altering others to employ her for three months at least, bufc also informed her that a sewing mistress was required for the village school, and that as fche salary allowed was fifteen pounds a-year, and the attendance required only three hours a-dny, she thought the situation might suit her, and if so, would be glad to see her next day, and would make her husband use his influence with the managers in her behalf. This was joyful news to Efiie, who now saw a way of escape from marrying a man she could not love, as well as a prospect of being able to support; her parents in comfort, through her willing toil, and her resolution was taken at once. Returning to her father, whom she found still busied in the perusal of the letter, she told him in tremulous accents that she could not think of entering into so solemn an engagement as marriage with one with whom she could never be happy. She assured him she had no wish to marry anyone, that she would be happier far as she was, as she had now an opportunity of earning as much as would support her mother and himself in comfort, telling him of the dresses Mrs Dawson, the lady iv question, had sent her to make, and how she had promised to maise her husband use his influence to procure her tho situation of sewing mistress, remarking that if successful in obtaining it, ie might be a happier circumstance for them all than her acceptance of Mr Bail's offer, as at best her marriage with thafc gentleman would only separate her from them, and she was sure her dear father and mother loved her too well to force her into a union that would only render her miserable. And then Gavin Murray, good, kindhearted, unselfish Gavin Murray, called her a good brave lassie for not marrying a man for the sake of his riches, and assured her as he smoothed down her wavy golden hah* with fatherly fondness, that he wouldn't force her feelings for all the gold in India, though he would feel vexed for poor Mr Bell, and Effie's eyes shone wifch joyous tears as she kissed his rugged pale cheeks, assuring him iv her turn that he would see it would all be for the best, aud that Mr Bell's disappointment might not be so deep as he feared. " An' noo, my 3assie, dinna say onything about this tae yer mither," he whispered. " I'll tell her myself. " Puir body, she'll be sail* dissappoinied about yer no takin' the laird, for I ken her heart was sefc on his marryin ye, an' makin' ye a grand leddy." '• An' oh, Effie, lassie," he went ou," "it jist lets us see there's naething bufc disappointments here, an' if she's hard on ye about it, ye must just forgie her, an' no tak' ill wi what she says, for ye dinna ken how hard an' bitter it is, when they come to us frae the objects o' our love, and it's love for ye an' our poverty thegither that's made her ambitious and -worldly minded. Mind this, my lassie, an' be kind an' gentle to her, however she may tak' this bit trial. An" noo, my ' lassie, ye maun write an answer to Mr Bell, an see that ye speak gratefully an' respectfully tae him, an' thank him for the honor he's showed ye, for wi' a* his peculiarities he's a gude, generous man, a real gentleman, an has paid ye the highest honour a man can pay a woman. Mind this, my bairn, an' now good night." Eflße again kissed the worn, rugged fac© of her father as she wished Mm good night in return, and hurrying back to the | kitchen, sat down to her task with a pity- j ing feeling in her heart for the kindly ' laird whose generous offer she was about j to reject. A difficult task it proved, for the truth, | and wisdom of her father's remarks regard- j ing the generous conduct of her suitor had §unk iuto ber mind, and rendered it move I

painful. A long weary letter it was she penned to her eccentric lover * a letter that taxed both heart and brain to render what she wished it. She began •by expressing her gratitude for the honour he (Mr Bell) had done her by Lis offer of marriage, an offer which she knew many women fairer and better than she, would be proud to accept, but stated her regret at being forced to decline it. owing to a hopeless attachment for another, and her consciousness that she could never love him as a woman ought co love the man she wouid accept as the partner of her life. She then assured him that the rejection of his generous proposal proceeded from no distaste to his person, age, or manners, bufc solely from the cause stated, aud while owning the value of tbe offer he had made her, aud the comforts and advantages her acceptance of it might entail nn her parents and herself, she again assured him she would feel happier far, 1 toiling on as sh». was in her lot, free to 1 minister to their wants, and bear her cross in silence, than to become the wife of a good and honourable man from mere worldly motives, while the image of another held the place he ! should hold in her heart She fin died by thanking him warmly for his kindness to and friendly interest in, hei* father and mother, and herself; kindness and in'etest which >-he said she would ever remember gratefully, however she was placed, or wherever she would be. On the whole, the tone of fche letter was so respectful as well as grateful that the laird must have fait tbat the rejection was almost a compliment, conveying, as ifc really did, a sincere tribute to his head and heart. That it must have had some such effect was evident, for her eccentric admirer iv stead of absenting himself from the cottage, ns might liave been expected, seeing that ehe posted the letter so as to be in time to reach him early on the following day, came at the hour appointed, seemingly but little east down by his dissappointment, and as frank and familiar in his manner as ever. This nri'dit have been seen from the cordiality of his bearing towards Gavin and Mrs Murray, aud the careless goodnatured way in which he bantered the object of his attachment on the foolishuess of her conduct in giving the cold-shoulder to a man of influence aud position like himself, through a ridiculous fancy for some wandering scape-grace of a fellow without a second coat to his bauk, or a sixpence in the world. " Aye, Mrs Murray," he remarked, after a conversation with the good dame, who, annoyed by her daughter's lack of worldly wisdom, had lectured hey rather severely through the day. ** It's really too bad. that after looking for a wife for the last twenty years without seeing one to please me, I should afc length see the girl to my taste, ancl that when I offered to make her Mrs Bell, and the bra west l*ss in Gowrie*, I should only be laughed at for my pains. Well, well, I must wear the willow, I suppose, but take my word for ifc, thafc moon-struck artist, with his handsome face nnd romantic nonsense is at the bottom ot it all. Hang the .fellow, if it hadn't been for his poetic eyes, raven locks, and sentimental stuff about painting, and music, and poetry, and sculpture, aud flowers, and dark woods, and murmuring stt earns, she might have been lady of Marleigh. Mightn't yon, Effie, eh?" The burning blush' that crimsoned Effie's cheek fit i his remark, must have shown her discarded lover how truly he had guessed the cause of his rejection, yet she rei mtted his badinage almost pleasantly, though now aud then a pan a passed through her heart, as she reflected th.-.t her affections were perhaps bestowed on one who never dreamt of loving her. and whnse continued silence showed how little interest he had iv her existence. This reflection was bitter enough of itself, but its bitterness was soon deepened still more by her increasing home trials. She could see that her father as well as her mother was disappointed by hey rejection of Mr Bell's proposal ; and though Mrs Lawson fulfilled her promise of giving bet almost constant employment, she had failed in her efforts to procure her fche situation, which, as often happens, was conferred on a young person less able to perform its duties. This was a severe disappointment to Effie, who dispirited by the result, and worn by hopelessness and incessant toil often sauk beneath the weight of her cross, and would ever when alone give vent to her sorrow in tears. "■ Aye, lassie, I'm feared yell get time enough tae creefc," her mother would remark, when at such times she surprised her in her fits of weeping. "Yes, yell get time enough tae greet, Efiie, I'm thinkin'. Oh, lassie, surely ye were daft the day ye refused the laird, an put awa' the blessiDgs o' comfort an' independence he offered ye for yersel' an' us. Ifc was slightin Heaven's mercy o' ye tae do ifc. It was little ye were think-in' o' ye puir auld father and mother, and the auld age o' poverty that's afore them, when ye let sic a chance slip through yer fingers. Ah, waes me. waes me. But it's nae use speekin' o' it noo. We maun a' jist thole an' suffer for it, for yell be sure tae be knocked up by this way o' doin', an' yell suue lose yer looks an' yer strength, an' then yell never meet ane'll speer yer price." j These remarks caused Efiie many a bitIter pang, but she bore them patiently. I toiling day and night to avert the evils I her mother dreaded, thankful that as yet ishe had found sufficient employment- for | herself and hey two assistants, though offten, very often, the dreadful' want of work or failing health passed darkly over h<-*r spirit, and her heart; reproached her for her selfishness in sacrificing the prospect of competence and comfort for her parents and herself to a seemingly foolish and hopeless atachinent to a man who had never so much as spoken of love to her,

and who, if he ever cherished a passing I fancy for her, might have forgotten it ere now for the superior attractions of some fairer form and face. Days, long and weary, passed away, and still no letter came from Philip Seyfcon; while Mr Bell, who seemed more interested than ever in Effie's existence, as well as attentive to the wants of her parents, to whom the contents of his well packed hamper afforded many little comforts they could not else have enjoyed, became a still more frequent visitor fco the cottage. As may be expected, this was a cause of much annoyance to many of the manoeuvring mamas in the neighbourhood, who would gladly have seen the visits and attentions of the wealthy proprietor of Marleigh transferred to their own blooming daughters, and through whose ill-concealed envy the busy tongues of gossip aud s ander soon assailed both the visitor and the visited. Strange people these Murrays were, they said. Tiny always thoug.it them quet, respectable persons until now, but really these visits of Mr Bell to them looked very ill, and no god would come of them. Why did the old people encourage him to the house 1 It wasn't likely a proud, sneering, particular man like him, who cared for nobody, and had no religious principle, in him, visited them through motives of charity or with fche intention of making their daughter lady of Marleigh. He to marry a poor seamstress ! No, not likely. It was easy to see what the end of it would be, for that Effie, with all her affected nWesty and gentleness, was a vain, silly creature, with ideas far above her position. Heally she ought not to be encouraged by giving her work to enable her to blind people ! who ought to know what she was, and let her see what tbey thought of her conduct. i Such were the remarks of many of her i own sex in the neighbourhood, amongst [ whom one of the most merciless and severe was Walter Graham's young wife, who went so far as to say, thafc for her own part she wouldn't countenance her onaoings by giving her employment, as she didn't wish her servants to make such an acquaintance or have any communications with such a family. These reports at length reached the ears of her against whom they were circulated, ancl filled her cup of bitterness to overflowing, by the consciousness that they were affecting her business, and that many of her acquaintances who, till now, had borne themselves friendly and sympathisingly towards her parents and herself, greeted her with cold civility, or passed her wifch a distant bow when she met them in her walks to and from the church or village. For some time she bore this nevr sorrow in silence, fearful that this cruel scandal should come to the knowledge of her parents, and add another weight to their burden of misery. Grieved too she was to thiuk tiiat to forbid Mr Bell's visits would be to entail deeper sorrow and privations on them, for they had grown strangely interested in and attached to their blunt outspoken and eccentric landlord, who, with all his peculiarities, had ever treated them with kindness and respect. Th' se were bitter reflections, yet, as she daily observed with pain the increasing edduess of friends and foes, aud the gradual falling away of her business, she afc length resolved to sneak to him on the subject at the first favorable opportunity. And so one dim autumnal evening, as she sat iv tbe window ot tbe little, parlor trying to finish a dress by the fading light, her f i ther and mother seated a little apart, and Mr B 11 near her, apparently busied in reading the newspaper he had brought with him, but in reality watching with strange interest every expression of her pah*, sad face, and every movement of her tienibliug tinkers as she bent over her task, sho at length spoke to him, spoke to ! him seriously, on the matter, told him of the sorrow those reports was causing her, and how they were even injuring her business, as well as her character, not a little surprised at the irritation of the ■good gent]eman, who interrupted her ere she could breathe a bint as to the necessity of his absenting himself from the cottage. I " Malicious reports injuring your charac- | ter and business ! A fig for them '" he * repeated nneeringly, tossing the paper from him iv his anger. "Who cares for their reports? Not I, for one. If it's gossip they want I'll give them something to talk about oue of these days. Public 'opinion, indeed' Stuff and nonsense! Would public opinion give you your breakfast if you needed it '? Answer me that, Mistress Effie 1" " No, Mr Bell, bufc it might take it from mc. It may take it from me very soon. Oh, sir, you know that as well as I do," faltered Efiie; "so really, sir, though I, as well as my father and mother, have felt and valued as we ought all your kindness and attention to us, and though we'll miss the pleasure of your society very much, 5 7 0u must not visit us so often or I may lose my character, which is all the fortune I have to carry me through the world." ' And whose fault is ifc that you haven't a fortune that would place yon beyond the spibe of your enemies 1 Isn't it your own, Miss Efiie Murray! Aye is it, and you may have it still if you choose, and laugh at them all. As for your neighbors speaking maliciously of you, it's tbe surest sign that they think you worth talk in/ about. Take my word for ifc, it is a poor, silly creature, be ifc man or woman, whom the breath of spite or slander never assails. Mind that, my little Madam Prudence," he added with a smile. *' But, by the way, as we are on the subject of gossip, have you not heard the strange reports that are afloat regarding that runaway lover of yours, the artist ?" '* What — what has happened him 1 ? Where is be ?" gasped Efiie in alarm, her

I face paling and her heart throbbing wildly, forgetful in her dread of sorrow or evil to the man she loved the sneering tones of Mr Bell, or the presence of her parents. " Where is he V\ " Why, in Edinburgh, where he has been for some time in very indigent circumstances. " "What has happened him 1 ?" "Why, only that he has been arrested and imprisoned for the non-payment of his tailor's bill. These wandering, unsettled kind of fellows are always getting into some scrape or other through their folly and extravagance, (To be continued.)