Chapter VI.

Bruce Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 1933, 17 February 1888, Page 5

Chapter VI.

.-^{pqn%inued.) .••■-.'■'.

i Then "his, fingers strayed/i Over the keys in : one of Mpjsart's most beautiful masses, and, before ptie ininute had 'elapsed^ he kiiewtbat; if he wished to woirS^ ottthe 'girl's' feelings he had chosen wisely, -f or-*'-; Maud's fair face— : alwaysai little pale arid/wistful-r-nbw began to glow: and,quiv ; er ? ?ind % a light came into her byes^^ ob tHe exquwite melbdy^pse and filled the. robin. ; F6r a: few momeAtls .she remained by' the^^ fire; j ! then', as : ii^^ drawn by resist' ible ;foree,i'B>ie'roae'ttpd^eri(;;bitck to the piano, standing,, there ; witb dpwiicaSt eyes, and tremulpu s ; lips as the jb weet jstrains touched ., her and i woke : 'man^a':feel|n^ ; whioh she had striven to lull iob quiesqence in ;her breastl Poor Sir > Giie^T He \ could hardly have chosen a less auspicious- moment to plead his .cause,- for the girl's heart was. full of Erio only just then, »nd: the; soft harmony only awoke her ipvip,' arid n'oheof tbehurtfeelingpf neglect whibli^^ was strong'ihher at^imeßi ; 'Watching her face as he ■played,' Sir Giles saw '.■-. the , softness:, arid^tenderness ; which had crept over, it, jthe dewy light ink the soft eyesj I the tender 4^ v er, 'of. the sweet .lips ; .arid, turning suddenly from the piano, he caught her hand ' in ! his r /ari3 'uttered the ' entreaty whiph was in?hiß, heart, arid"whioh now roseto his lips c , with ,. :an ; 'impassioned i elcquence . which startled^ Maiia, and which .was what 6h'e Would; have' least expected from Sir Giles Lovely with ;his ! quief calW Jp{- manner, bis ■high sense of hisi own importance^^'as a rich Baronet and; an exceedingly eligible parti. .. W&B it true, as shehad .once said laughingly toJEficForiescue, that ,he, was capable' of a' grani&e pksision, after ''all ?-' ' i - There iwas pomposity: or arrogance about ;him'ri6ir:;v it; was quite evident that his heart; was in entreaty, ,-iand- that ,his happiness w^as yery. nearly concerned in her answer! ' . ' [ ' '"' •; ..„.,, __ .. - Maud was too- surprised and astonished at the torrent 'of burning word's which poured from his lips to speak for-the first minute or so. She listened as if in amaze ; but, the hot blood surged up into her face and her hand trembled in his. A few months ago she would have been at no loss to answer tin appeal ■• as beauty and heiress .she had had- many: a suitor, and she would have dismissed Sir Giles with a very sincsre regret for any suffering she might have caused him, but without any personal pain. But now it was different. Here was a man who loved her deeply and warmly, who could surround her with the protection of his love, who could give her rank and title, who could perhaps satisfy the yearning for affection, for trust, for companionship which Brio's desertion — it. was' nothing lesa — had created in her heart j why should she riot accept what he offered ? At least he would be her own, and she would be first in somebody's heart ; and, if Eric despised her, he should see that another held her very dear, as the most, priceless treasure in the world. The temptation was a sore one, arid in answering such a question* any hesitation is dangerous. Sir Giles began to hope for — nay, to be always sure of success, when Maud gently withdrew her hand from his and said quietly and eadly— " Will you believe that I am deeply and truly sensible of the honour you do me, Sir Gileß ? Will you believe that I thank you for it with all my heart, that I feel— you little know how keenly — your generous trust and regard ? Bat I cannot be your wife." " You cannot !" Sir. Giles repeated, as one dazed cr in a dream. " Oh, Miss Somerset, those are bitter words ! Can you give me no other answer when Hove you bo very deeply ?" " What would you have me say ?'' replied the young girl wearily. "Do you think it does not hurt me to refuse jour affection f Do you think," she added bitterly, '• that I am so rich in love and trust that I can afford to reject a good man's love when it is offered me without some good reason for that rejection ? Heaven knows fchat there might be happiaess —there might be peace for me in your home ; but there might be also for you and for myself bitter regret and endless pain." " Maud," he exclaimed, " you shall never regret it ; I will make you so happy ! What do you mean by saying that it would bring me regret and pain ? You can give me no pain, except by rejec'ing my love and sending me from you." There was a long silence. Maud stood hesitating, tempted, uncertain. If Eric's Jove were denied her, why should she not accept this — why should she nob make one man happy if she could ? She moved away, after a moment, very quietly, and croseed over to the rug where Leo lay. The dog rose, wagged his tail lazily, andrubbed his great head against the soft folds of her drees. She put her band quietly down on his head, and, turning to Sir Giles, spoke suddenly, with a very quiet wistful sadness in her face and voice. " You ask me why I speak of regret for you and pain," she said. "Ido so advisedly. No man likes to bring a woman to hia heart and home who cannot give him love for love. I do not love you, Sir Giles Lovell, I do not love you. Knowing this, do you persist in your wish to make me your wife ?" " Yes," he answered eagerly. " You do not love me now ; but you will love me by-and-by, when I have proved to you the depth of my tenderness." She shook her head sadly. " No, I shall never love you," she said drearily. " I have no love to give any one. All my heart is given — was given before we met ! As you love me, but with a greater, deeper tenderness, I love another man. Now you know why I will not marry you — why, though the love 1 crave for will never be mine, I refuse to give the ashes of such an affection in return for the warmth and life of yours." Sir Giles's face grew very pale as he turned frotn her, with a groan of anguish. Maud'd eyes followed him with a pitying expression, sorrowful and weary ; but Bhe did not speak. Did she not suffer as he was suffering ? Did she not .know only too well what it was to love and not. be loved ? The silence had lasted fully five minutes when Sir Giles spoke. " You say you love onother," he said hoarsely. "It is not likely- — it is impoesib^ — that you should love mr vain ; so you can never know the depth of my pain " " Hush !■•" she returned Bharply. " Tou do liot know. I do know what it is to love in vain. ; fl do know what it is to crave for an aifection which will never, never, be miae j and — oh!. Sir Giles, lam sorry ; f6r you, and, if I am to blame for your suffering, I pray you to forgive mcl Heaven knows I would not willingly have laid such a burden as mine upon you.' > . "Whom ib it you love ?' > ,BBked Sir Giles suddenly. "I must be mistaken. I thought 'you cared for Eric FortescUe P" Maud " djd not speak j but ■ the fiusu which rose alowly in her cheek; was eloquent, although it faded again almost immediately, and left her .paler than before. , i „,:.. , . t , f Sif ; GileVwas ! ariWeredi '. '■■■■ «« But' he loves you ! 'he' said 1 Vehemently. ;"-:MaudVhe loves yon as hitf/liiW * > v; a--. m i ( JBut ha left me,' r anßwere. djrMaud brokenly! > .- T .««Erio left me^fprever/ -, o T -; r ,.... r . /. 5 „.,

; :" O»nj ypn:itell mejaborit it P ; jwVecH'Bii Giles, after.;, papin|r hurriedly- t»Ji*n.d! down the room for a 'minute. or tyro. /'.WiUit' pain yon 9 It isßot iirip(Brtinende3--it is not merely idle < oftridsUy^wnic^ -,''"' \ '"There » bufcUtti* to tell/ replied Maud, struggling ior'conipoßure,} for it-was' thflf-firßt time Binpa. the day. he had left her that she had spoken Eric's name i\..aioiidl •'"'*•'■ tt;.fe;pn|y'ttbat, I am rich &nd he is p'^or, arid that his pride is greater i than what he bars" We love • and because he is notCrioh; be'will riot vmarry an . heir.es9,."\ v.* ; ';;. "'. -.^ ■■.-.y'/-. '■■ :■:■ ;.-.: >■ „ ?.. ;. .' , ." Doe? he; know that, you care for him rasked Sk Giles gravely. VForteseue ia riot a : matt to aot-^-— " ". (v ' ; ';.C-' ? - i :'V '■..'■.■•..• .-, ' . r V I knelt by him and told Kirn that I, loved hinilV cried Maud paßiionately:^; arid theri;' ; with mingled tears, and many a pauge, she told him all, how she-had lote^;Erio, ; howishe had ' "met'^himv how Bhe"''.^^.^^'^'^^^^^^ |how he had left ; he*,-' arid^^ Sir 1 Giles listtried ?rith sympathy and interests to the pitiful ' littlef ■ .history. - ; j.; ■■ -'vl ■ ■.:;'": '-^w^; - ; '- ;: '' ; ."'-'' 'jj,