Our Novelettes.

Bruce Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 1623, 27 February 1885, Page 6

Our Novelettes.

"I:" A SYMPHONY, WITH VARIATIONS. (Continued). "Oh, you will. Percy says ho is handsomo and rich — what moro can you want ? If you won't try your arts, why, I must ; I havo so made up my mind for a wedding in tho summor." " Whoso ?" aski-cl a voice at tho door ; and thrn aunt Mary camo in and Bcoldod us for not getting ready for dinner. " Why, wo hayo only just begun to talk !" exclaimed Beatrice. " I hud quito forgotten so common-place a thing as dinner. Is our new guest worth dressing for, mamma ? Is ho handsome ?" " I will loavo you to judge for yourself, my doar ; but make haste — you havo vory little time ;" and thon aunt Mary went away again, and left us to dress. " Now what shall wo wear ?" asked Boi.trico. "Wo must not forgot to take first impressions into consideration." Aftor a short inspection of materials, wo fixed upon white, and made our entry into the drawing-room — " like a pair of vestal virgins," Boatrico whispered. * # # # » I was not at all sure that I eliould like this Mr Seaton ; ho is scarcely handsomo, and there is a " stand-offishness " about him that might pass more easily for pride than dignity His foatuirs aro good, and not wanting in character ; tho mouth is broad and rathrr thin, tho chin square. I think bis eyes are brown, like his hair, which is crisp and curly. Ho is very quiet all tho evening, but he is evidently out of health, so would not appear to tho best advantage. I asked Trixy this morning what she thought of him ; she put on a very demure look,, and mado mo a stately curtsey. " Thero !" she cried, with a merry laugh. "Wo are always eepected to render homage to royalty." " You think him so cool?" "Ho is ice itself !" she answered. „ "There is plenty of fire under tho ice," I said. " I shall not oare to offend him." My doarest minnikin, I grieved last night to see you waste your sweet chatter on that block of indifference 5 but, if you aro bent on conquest, I'll wish you all success. At the same time I don't think there is tho ghost of a chance for you;" and with a wave of her hand she waltzed away. I think cousin Percy is improved ; there is a healthy brown hue in his faco that makes it look more manly ; there is more energy too in all that ho does, aa if ho did it with a purpose. I can see that ho doos not like to hear Beatrice make such fun of his friend. I have taken it into my wise head that ho would Uko Mr Soaton to marry Beatrice ; she is so protty and good, she deserves — — * * # # * Variation the First. — I, Beatrice EarnclifFe, havo just discovered my sly cousin Jfileanor immortalising the family sayings and doings in a journal. Now I don't intend her to havo all the honours of authorship to herself ; I beg theroforo to add a variation to her " I," and corrections to her blundora. I will not Interfere with her introduction — thank goodness Miss Macphorson and myself havo boon strangers in this " vale of bothers !" — but I will date my entry from the Linport station. It was thoro that I met my charming cousin, and should havo driven ncr off at once ; but, alas I like another enchanted princess, sho was attracted by a Prince Charming, in the shape of the " Dark Hercules" that is her special admiration — though, by the way, I see she is not certain that Mr Seaton does not meet her entire approbation. And fancy, aftor that doubtful remark, pairing him off: with me 1 No, Nellie, you may keep him yourself. And now, having given notioe of my intention to bo the presiding deity of my cousin's first literary effort, I will return tho pen to her fair hand, and, bowing, retire. # # # # # April I'Hh. — I havo not had a moment to write in my journal since last Wednesday, whon Trixy discovered mo, and added hor absurd note. I must must bo moro cautious in tho future, as I want to write down thoughts I should not like oven Trixy to share in. It ia such a lovely morning ; tho wind has exhausted itself during tho night, and tho heavy ruin-clouds which have hiinf^ threateningly in the Bky during tho past few days nave all disappeared ; the sun has full possession, and is shining gloriously. Spring is quito come at last; the birds aro Binging merrily aB they flit from bough to bough ot the beach trees in the avenue, and in the air there is a perfume that betrays tho presence of violets. We have such a houseful! First thoro arc Katie and Felice Marchmont, two small dark-hairod, dark-eyed girls, with rosy complexions, full of life and spirit. Then thero is Maud Vornon, tall and stately, with perfectly formed featurep, utterly devoid of expression and indicative of want of heart. I always think of a china imago whonevor I look at hor. Auntie will nevor allow that Maud is heartless ; she says wo don't understand hor, and calls tho coldness wo oomplaiu lof repose of manner. But, of all tho girls, Gertrude Haroourt i 8 my favourite, sho is so pretty and gentle, always ready to help others lor smoo'li away a diflioulty ; her pale sweet faco boainß wtth an inner light that never seemß to wavor. Sometimea I think bho is too good for earth. I I hope Beatrice will not see this — I know sho would laugh at my nonsense, Gortrudo is not a favourite o£ hers. Now for tho gentlemen. Herbert and Tom Marchmont are prototypes of their sisters as to person, with a Lrilio loss of brains and double the amount of solf-concoit ; the Vernon boys, Georg'o and liraham, are handsome great follows, given up wholly to athletics. Captain Grey is a nonontity and almost a strangor, with a fatiguing drawl and an intimate acquaintance with dogs and horses. Thon there aro some elderly people, frienda ol aunt Mary's. Beyond thoßO there is only Mr Seaton. I like him much bottor than I oxpoctod* Wo had quito a long chat together last evening about books i had read and etrango lands he had visited j ho had boon a grout wanderer, so his conversation is vory entortaiuing. Beatrice doos not got on at all with him, ehe thinks him bo stiff ; Ido not find him so, and I know aunt Mary likos him vory much. The whole party are gono for a walk, but I havo remained ut homo to write my Indian bndgot and scribble a little in my journal — it ia so difficult to find a quiet hour amid all tho gaiety and bustle. Last ovomug wo got up some tableaux, and for a change took all our scenes from Charles Dickon's books. Tho small back drawing-room mado a capital stage, and, being already curtained oil' from tho larger room, required little preparation. The firafc picture wan from The Cricket on tlia Hearth, where Dot undeceives the blind girl. 1 was caot for Dot, and Gertrude Harcourt for Bertha, Marmaduko Beaton takiUg tho part of; Caleb. Then we bad Percj aa

David Copperfii'ld, witli Boptriro as Agnes, standing before him, her sad face and up- . liflod liands tolling moro oloquontly than words of Dora's death. Percy vol ing that something a lilfclo moro lively should follow, we fixod on Ruth Pinch making the beefVteak pudding, finishing up with the betrothal of lilfclo Kniily to Ham Prggotty, I3< al.rico doing tho " lono lorn ' 1 Mrs, Gummidgo wiih but doubtful success. 1 When tho curtain had fallon on tho lust of 1 t>'o tableaux, eomo ono proposed dancing as a nice finish to the evening ; and, tho proposal mooting with no opposition from Aunt Mary, 1 tho gentlemen spcodily eloared a spaco of chairs and tables, and wo began. Only fivo minutes more, and thon I must dress for my drivo wit h aunt Mary. I have, not written anything that I meant to write ; hfo is so new and strange to mo thut I cannot collect my ideas clearly. I think it will bo bottor if I wait a little whilo till L got a litilu ! more usod to it. I wonder what I havo done to offend Percy ; bo lms avoided me lately, and scarcely answers when I speak to him. Sometimes, when T am talking to Mr. Soaton, I cotch his oves fixed on mo sternly. Doos ho think tnat I am flirting? No — ho cannot. Our talk is always so quiot and sober. Perhaps he fancies Beatrice may not — at least — oh, I don't know what, it is ! I had better not have any more nice talks with Mr Seaton. Had I better consult Trixy or Aunt JMary ? Variation t/ie Second. — I should think you did expect to be quizzed, inito, after such a rhupsody about Gertrude Hareourt ; sho will live and thrive for many a day, and though she won't find old Squire Sherman's floors "patinod with bright gold," sho will his pockets — which, to my mind, is much more to tho purpose. As you have so woil described tho Marchmont boys, it is needless for me to add many words ; I will content myself by saying thut they give whatever admiration they can spare to your iweot self. As for Duke, he is a bear, and all tho girls say so but you. llow you can got up such violeut flirtations with him is a wonder Ko mo — at least it would bo a wonder if 1 had not heard love was very pertinacious. Don't I know, Nellie, you sly child, why you would not accompany us on our expedition this morning ? It was much ploasanter taking a quiet drive with mamma, was it not, especially as the Duko drove ? What absurd notions havo you taken into your head about Percy ? Ho is shocked of course, as wo all are, at your conduct with his friend. But you need not think I mind it, mito. You are welcome to your bargain. I did hope he would havo been nice, and then 1 should have minded; indeed, I had planned it all. Now, mite, don't do anything foolish — be sure you don't! # » # * * May-Day. — Oh, Beatrice, whero shall I hide my book away from you ? What a teaso she is, my naughty cousin ! It will never do to trust my journal with any secret, if 1 cannot keep it quite to myself. I must make her promise not to touch it agaiu. I hopo Poivy doos not really think that I am flirting with Mr. Seaton — I am sure lam not. Sometbing is wrong — I only wish I knew what. 1 nskod Mr. Seatou if he know what was the matter witli Percy. Ho looked at me vory earnestly for a minute, and then, with a comical smilo and odd little flash of the eyes, eaid, " Yes, I can guess." "Is it anything bad?" I asked. — "Is it possible," ho answered. " Do you think I have offondod him ?" I foolishly persisted. "Do you think he is angry with me ?" His reply made my face flush crimson. " Who could bo angry with you, dearest ?" And, so saying, he dropped tho rose ho had been holding into my lap, and left the room. When I raised my head ho was gone, and Percy stood iv tho doorway. I called to him, but ho had turned away without speaking. Beatrice only laughs whon 1 toll her, and auya I havo too fertile an imagination. # * # # » lam frightenod at myeolf. I have a secret — 1 found it out yesterday. 1 love Marmaduko Seaton ! Nobody knows but myself, yometimes I wish I did not either. Oh, I was bo happy before ! It was so pleasant to sit and talk with him ! Now I tromblo whonover ho approaches mo, and I am lillod with shamo and fear. Ho called me " dearost," but it may havo been only a mistake — lie wont away' directly. Last night wo walked for an hour under tho limes and beaches in tho avenue, watching tho moon rise ovor Clay Hill, flooding Deer Hollow with a bright silvery radiance that mado tho trees look weird and ghostly. In some bushes near a nightingalo sat singing, und down in the Hollow, among tho dark firs, tho owls were hooting dismally. Tho wind was vory still — not a loaf stirred, except when a squirrel jumped up from tho long grass at our approach, and scu.mpe.rod up a tree, rustling the leavoa with his bushy tail, und uttering sharp littlo cries of " Feigned alarm, And anger insignificantly tierce." On eo I saw a shadow oome stealing out from under tho troes, and pause on the odyo of the mere ; then it plungoa into the Binning waters, disturbing tho smooth aurfnuo, and leaving a truil of eddying ripples behind it. " What is a V" I uskod, halt frightened. " Only a deor crossiug the lake to rejoin his companions," said Mr. Seaton. '' jN'o doubt Ek'a,iu;r had begun to woavo a wouderlul tragedy out of it," eaid Beatrice, laiighiug merrily. " Did you think it was oomo despairing swain dying for luvo of some flaunting Pindiclar 1 Or did you imagine it was the ghost of the Lady Anno whom tho servants luaist still wanders by tho lnko ?" " A family ghost !" exclaimed Mr. Soaton, gaily, before 1 could speak. " Earnoliffo, you should havo told mo. Fancy my fright at an unexpected renvontre witli this Lady Auno." " You surely are not fcroublod with norvou3noss ?" Beatrice inquired. "I'ortuimioly, no. iiufc como, Barnclifl'e, givo us tho gnosLly story. You could not havo a better timo or placo for it j this cold moonlight and tho heavy shadows will aid our imaginations, and wo aro not too far from tho houiiu to Bonk its shelter if we aro seriously alarmed. Come, begin, man." " The placo, if not tho timo, is appropritto," answered Percy, " for yonder is the eput whoio tno tragody which onds tho story was. enacted. Will it frighten you if 1 toll you, Nellie?" he asked, turning to me. " Nonsense, Percy ; you know I havo hoard it many times," was my pettish reply. " I will protect you from her ladyship's ghost," said Mr. Seuton, with, comic gadantry> and, taking my hand, ho drew it, through hU arm j but his tono changed as he softly whisporod, " I would 1 mignt always be your protector." " Do you want to hoar tho story P" asked Percy, 1 sharply. I looked tit him as ho stood iv the moon* light $ he was white and angry — at what ? u ~%&, teH it us, Percy »" I saidf "itis so

•ong sinco I hoard it that I liavo almost forgotten it. And thank you for your offer, Mr. Seaton," I addod, withdrawing my hand ; " but I shall mod oven moro protection than you can give if tho glio^t appears.'' " I wish sho would," said Beatrico, laughing; "I should like to inako a few ir.quiiies rospecting my ancestors. Now, Percy, begin, pleaso." " We avo an old family, though whether tho Conqueror found us hero when he camo, or wo camo over with him, I am not quite certain; of ono tiling thcro is ro possible doubt, liko our neighbours wo aro descendants of Adam. I beliovo there arc various narrations of marvellous achievements both in Hold and flood fcreasurod up in tho family archives, but I have never found time — nay, inclination — to examine them. Tho tale 1 am about to relate is the only ono I know, and it was (old me by nn old retainer of the family when I was a hid. " In the yoar eevonrron hundred and Bomething, when Queen Anno eat on the throne ol England and was ruled by her waitingwomen, tho Earncliffes wcro three in family. Firbt there was Percival Earucliffo, the Squire, a stout, merry-hearted old man, fonder of good living and the chase than politics. Ho had ono son, George, a line handsomo fellow of some six-and-twonty, a Captain in the Army, and high in favour with Marlborough. Lastly, camo Anne, a daiuty, fairy creature, with blue eyes and chestnut locks, who had turned tho heads .of all the gallants far and near. Little cared mistress Anne that the country swains knelt sighing at l:cr feet — their lovo lines Fcrved but as food to her vanity, and tho flowers that often accompanied them were tossed away disdainfully. "Anno was terribly ambitious. During a short stay in London her beauty had attracted the notice of Lord Edward Fitzclaronco, a nobloman of some standing at Court, but whoso character was anything but sans reprocJie. He propoaod for her hand, bub was scornfully rejected by her father. Anne was madly angry when she was told of her lover's dismissal; she swore to be true to and ma v ry him if ho would be faithful to her. Lord Edward promised willingly. Anne's amplo fortune was too tempting a bait to the needy young nobleman to be lightly thrown away. In time his lady-love might persuade her father to revoke the sentence ; if not, his consent must bo tlono without, mid the lovers would trust to chance. " To take his daughter out of tho reach of danger, Squire Earncliffo and his family roturnod to JDeerwood ; but ' love laughs at locksmiths.' Lord Edward had arranged to ineot Anne once a month, at midnight, in Deer Hollow ; his signal was to be a peculiar whistle, long and shrill — a light in the bow window of tho gallory being agreed upon as her answer. " Months passed, and Lord Edward began to weary of his lonely midnight watches; the lady wus imperious too, and not the pliable creature ho had at first thought her. Oue April night, after a somowhat stormy interview, ho obtained Mistress Anne's consent to his making another appeal to her father. A moro positive refusal lhan tho first was the Squire's answer, coupled with a threat that, if his daughter Anne marriod without his consent, eho would never cross his threshold again, or touch a farthing of his monoy. " Yet once again the pair met by tho side of tho lake. An old moon shouo iv tho sky ; tho wind sighed mournfully iv tho trees ; it. was tho only sound, except the soft plash of tho waters lying darkly at their foot ; everything living see mod to have deserted the spot but themselves — ovon tho owls were silent that night. Voices which had begun tho conversation in gentle niurinuriugs were at last rased in recrimination — words of passionate anger broke tho stillness of night. Lord Edward, finding his hopes of a fortune b.ighted, resolved to withdraw himself from the engagement without lues of time. With many plausible rogrets he t_>ld her he could not subject her to such a hard fato as lite with him would bo ; he was too poor, he said, to keep a wife, and his Anno hud been used to a lilo of luxury. " I have told you Lady Anno was obstiuate ; she refused to hear his excuses, and declared that neither futher nor brother should separate them, till at last Lord Edward turned upon hor in fury acid proclaimed tho truth — lio lovod her for hor money, and that aloi:o ; with it was gono all her value in hia eyes. " Liko an enraged tigross, the young beauty turned upon him. " ' Traitor 1 ' she cried. 'As man's love is nothing to woman's lovo, so h;a hate i> nothing to hor hate. Tho Earnclillcs m.v>r forget un injury. Be auro I shall remember this one. Go, sook another dupe 1 Go, coward !' "Ho turned to leavo her, halt terrfiod at hor rage. As ho did so sho sprang upon him. Ihoro was a splash in the water; wider and wider spread the circlos over it, till thoy faded out, and not evon an eddy on its smooth Burlaco betrayod tho scorot of their fate. " There — now you havo tho story of Mistress Auue. I hope it has fullilled your expectations, Duku," Baid Porcy, whou ho had iinishod. " Well — on tho wholo, yos. But how in tho world was tho story made known if there were no wituoobea ?" " A bird of tho air, no doubt, was tho medium," answorod, lightly; "'or perhaps iho ghoßt itself may have commuuieatod tho iuims to bOu>o ono. Now, Nellie, luko my arm, and wo will return to more cheerful regious. Does not your flesh creep in terror, lest tho ghost should Hit past us r 1 ' " iNo, indeed," I answered, laughing, and, taking hits prullerod arm, wo returned to the house, leaving Boairioo to follow witti Mr. iSoaton. * * * « # Hearing tho story of tho Lady Anno made mo dream very strangely last night. I thought I was walking in tho moonlight by sldo ol tho luke, wlion Air. Seaton uumu up U> mo, and wanted mo to marry him j but, beloro 1 could answor, cousin Porcy joiued us, uud, forbidding mo to answor Mr. Soaton, asked mo to do his wife. Percy looked so wild that 1 said "yes" iv four. I had scarcely consoiued, when a beautiful lad^ ptood before me : sho was most lovely, though hor eyes were so sad and wistful it almost, mado tho tears como in mine to look at thorn, liaising her hand, sho half sung, half said — "If Earnclilfe cousins married ba Thoy ahall live iv oumity : Woddod strife for wedded lovo, Wedded life shall bitter prove." Then she sprang forward and sank beneath the waters. In my terror I screamed; that woko mo. Dreams are certaiuly odd things. # * #■ 0 Variation lh<i Third — This will be a more complete variation on Nelh.o's " I " than any that have gono beforo it. Sho has forced a solemn promise from me that, if I meddle with her journal, I will not road any of its contents, co that I cannot comment on what she has written. (To be continued.}.