Chapter VII.

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

Chapter VII.

Hallo, Fortescue ! ,JW;hat ; .brings v y^u here ? : I'thbuglit you were iii India." 4 „ '''So I should liav6 bisen ! j and ho I^hattbe, soon, -if-I- don't -go - -down " in the Roman Empire,, which, sails,, on; rThureiay | next," answered Eric. Forteseue, responding rather coldly to &rGileVLoveli's greeting as they i met on the platform of Waterloo Station, one gloomy evening, n- ; v ■..'.. - '■ . "t-'On Thursday. r!^, repeated the Barpnet, in a tone of : surprise. 'Sphere are you going how-^-doVnto ßeltphi are you ?" '"'.,,'• , ' ' ! . '' Yesj I'm agoing .to ' take Teavo" of 'Mrs Holmesj'Vsaid Ericj still coldly; « Alt. /what time does. the, train starfcfff; : ; : -„,, " Sevenrthir.ty," answered Sir f&les, pulling but hiswatch. Half an hour to 'spare • let us take^turri;."' . - : "' ? ■ _ : " Ji ';'- '■ '' :\ '" > As he spoke, he clipped his arm within Eric's, .andobegan > walking up; ;and< down jtbe : platform* to. J the j discomfiture of the- porters, and': pificiais; who "„' were busy. . . with 1 the' depaftuto'of a j quick 5 train" to the West, arid had their hands and 'truckrfull. -j t As v they;; pacßd>'bapkwards : : and forwards, talking commonplaces; Eric nofcicadthat there was a change in ; Sir .,Gitee; Loyell which had improved him greatly. His face. was paler and less animated, and his manner had lost its old self-sufficiency and 'arrojance, and was graver andumore cordial. Eric "liked him better thus, and thought it less unlikely that he should win a girl's love than he had been inclined to do in the old days j he watched him rather" closely. If it were true — the report he had heard in town,' that Miss Somerset w { as looking with' favour on his suit — he had an interest for Eric he had never poßS9B3ed"before. tX Sad thing about Miss Somerset," said Sir Giles, after a moment's silence,' speaking abruptly ; and, looking as ■ he spoke full into Eric's face, he could not fail to perceive the sudden start his words produced. ' About Miss Somerset ?' repeated Eric hoarsely. 'What?' ' Haven't you heard ? Why it was almost a nine days' wonder I ' said Sir Giles coolly, still watching the effect of his words. ' Lost every farthing in the failure of Ayn's bank. Hasn't a penny, poor girl !' 'Is this true ?' asked his companion, stopping short in his walk and facing Sir Giles. 'Is this a fact P' 'Is anything a fact in this sublunary sphere ?' returned Sir Giles rather impatiently, and looking away. 'Is anything true in this nineteenth century of stupoo and Brummagen P I was with Mr Fletcher last night.' A few more turns up and down the busy platform, during which the express started, and there was a momentary lull while their own train came up. Sir Giles had not spoken again ; but his dark eyas were watching Eric's face furtively, and what he saw there brought a smile and a sigb . 'Come, Forteecue, tb ; s is our train,' he said at length ; but Fric paused. ' I don't tbink I will go down this evening, 1 he suid hesitatingly. ' I have some business in town which will keep me here a day or two longer/ ' Is it important ?' asked Sir Giles, smiling a little, but stifling- a sigh at the sime moment. ' Yes — I must wait,* replied Eric. ' Goodbye, Lovell.' ' I shall see you again, 1 hope ?' said Sir Giles, as he wrung the hand held out to him with unusual fervour. * Piobably ; oh, yes — good-bye !' And the Baronet, as he threw himself back on tha cushions of the railway compartment, watched the tall figure as it went quickly through the thronging porters, officials, and passengers, and guessed where he was going. As fast as it was possible for a hanßOm to carry him, Eric Forfcescue drove to Mr Fletcher's, acting entirely upon the impulse of the moment, not pausing to think of what bis reception might be. The servant who admitted him said that Mr Fletcher was out diniDg, but that Miss Somerset was at home, and showed him up at once to Maud's boudoir. It was empty, and, while the servant went to tell his mistress of his arrival, Eric paced up and down in a fever of unrest, wondering, hoping, fearing. In a very few mo jents Maud entering softly, had come forward to the centre of the room, before he was aware of her presence. She stood there, looking very pale, with downcisteyes, and her hands linked loosely together. Eric turned then, and, seeing her, came forward with outstretched hands. Then, with a tender intonation uttering her name, he drew her to him and looked down eagerly, and yet entreatingly, into the lovely troubled face. ' Maud— my own!' he whispered fondly; and, as she etood within hia arm, the girl hid her face, with its blushes, tears, and^smiles, on his shoulder, whispering — ' You will not leave me again. Eric ?' ' Not till you send me away, sweetheart.' Then followed a very bright hour, one of those bits of unmitigated sunshine which gleam sometimes once or twice in a life-time to thaw the ice which gathers more or'lesa thickly round the hearts of each of us; and, ere it was over, Maud Somerset stoodjpledged to become the wife of Eric Fortescue, and to go out to India to share his fortunes. It was to be a very quiet wedding ; very little time could bo spared for trousseau and toilettes, although Eric, of course, had to postpone his voyage to India, and Maud pleaded pathetically for a fortnight at Haw thornden before they went abroad. Mr Anderws obtained a longer leave from hia friends, the Indian bankers, who appeared moat accomodating and amiable ; and Mr Fletcher seemed as happy over his ward's engagement as if her future husband were>a man of large property or brilliant prospects. Eric was radiant, bo proud and fond of hie Jiancee, so {devoted and tender that, if Maud had loved him well in $he past, he became doubly dear 1 to her now ; and she clung to him with a pission which seemed aim oßt strange. : •■ That Bhe herself was not quite happy was a thought wbioh never entered any one's head. With Eric she was always cheer "ill, gay, and apparently Very happy in her hopes for the future j but MrJFletoher found her sometimes during bis absence looking • dejected and depressed j and once G ( eorgie 7 May-— who waa to be her one bridesmaid, .'and [who was' a little disappointed at the quiet engagement and humdrum wedding — found he'rlying ori' hei ;poneh in a passion of tears; arid Bobs, for?wbi,ch Bhe| would;, or? could- give s no explanation, ftncj

. . .■ '-'. ,-:.,- — i — ; r T — rfj -— — = <- which Georgia naturally attributed to a lover'f quarrel.- V r ; ■'< B9tdEri<» one afternoon.' ' Wb»t !»▼« you bee# doing to-day f ' : i Tou^lbpk >d ipale, my bhua/ ; ?*■>' ■" ■■ r. 7 ' ." ;;;•'■■.".;•" -■'■' And Maud dwiaed to a head-ache and a little fatigue, and teemed fit for -nbthin^bitfo' ■ Me'bnr/tfoib^mtli;4er ; ' ; £ana;l^ng- : in- ! BHo r «_! his tender watichful eyes looking at her ft little anxipnsly' now" 1 and then.. " ,^-<^ :. ; " •OK; Efid; jbii do loTe me ?' she said passionately , once. ' you will riot lovVmeleeß when you : know" how foolish and .naughty I am<r" ■■■"" ■-/■■>- 1 -*:■■■•:. ;."."•"; \\;; "\- .; ■-- Brio stooped tbki9B her, csilling hei*'protfcy pet-names, and assuring her of his unalterable ; WJien: he. felfcliow hot andjfeverish &e;little'-han3s'#e're]^hiph' : 'cl^i)g'^^Hiid,'-aiiid' saw the strange -glassy glitter in the lustrous eyes, he wished that the excitement was over| and that Maud waai .settled qtnetly at ? Haw-' with him, and able ; to rest from the multifarious ; labours > '"which even : .jtbe i; quiet? simple she ■waa; getting seemed, to entail upon her. , „ V '■'" "' -The 1 wedding iifaJi to take : place early in April ; Mr Andrews hwri'g the only guest, 'exoepfclGeorgie May and an ojd cßllege*chum o£>Erio'si who" was to officiate as !' bast-man,' 'and, : jafter..a.qujet r .:breakfa<!t at Mr Fletcher's, the happy pair were to start for Hawthornden, wherethe short ;honeyaipon ? was to he spent, or ratlier partly Bperit, for it would b 9 continued on, board the Peninsular. and OrientalSteam Company's vessel on thfeir way to :Iridia.,--f/v'.J .'• '■ ' "■■"': "■■■ ' > '■ '■'■■• '■ -■"H; In her^heart-perhapß Maud regretted a little^ the bustle and excitement of such a wedding as Miss Somerset, the,:heires3'B would hare him. Weddings are especially pleasant to thefeminind'portion of the community, yrUo enjoy the fuss of oneas muchiaa i men detest it ; and; Emily was almost ready to. shed tears as she robed, her mistress in her long -whjte silk, and threw the plain tulle veil over, the young •bride's head 1 ; it was such a different bridal costume from the r one r she had pictured .-for Miss Maud> and which, in all it's magnificence of > satin i and Brussels point, floated before her now.. But , even Emily, owned that it would have been difficult to find a fairer bride than Maud, as she* stood in her dressing-room on that last morning of her maiden -hood, in all her snowy purity, her face almost as colourless as her dress, her eyes shining, like star sunder the. misty veil. ■;•'..•. Very grave and steadfast looked Eric as he stood at her side in the quiet empty church, which seemed still and dull on that April morning ; very tender were ' the tones which Bwore to love, honour, and cherish, very close the- clasp of the .little trembling hand which fluttered like a' caged bird in his, and there wa9 a very tender love«light ia his blue, eyes as he lifted her into the carriage, and, throwing up her veil, bent to press a long kiss on the sweet red lips which quivered under his. ' ifotnlng but death caa pare us now, Maud.' 'Nothing but death!' repeated the young wife, with a little shiver. ' Oh, Eric, thank Heaven— thank Heaven, nothing but death !' The. wedding breakfast at Mr Fletcher's was a quietly cheerful repast although thare were no speeches to laugh at and no flirtation to enliven it, save a very mild one between Georgie, who looked very bewitching in her dress of pale blue and swansdown, and Eric's groomsman, Fred Macdonald, who seemed a little struck with the graceful little fairy. After it was over, and Maud had cat the large snow-white cake, her little fitful smile coming and going as Eric held her hand to perform the operation more effectually, she went away to change her dreßS for the travelling attire she was to wear en route to Hawthorndwn, Georgie lamenting gaily that, as she was the only bridesmaid, there could be no excitement in getting the first • pin,' which would make Ler the next bride, ' I shall always look upon this station as a very fortunate place to me,' sai^ Eric, smiling, as he put Maud in the coupe at Waterloo. ' If I had not met Lovell here, I should have been in India now —not the happy man I am to-day j and yet, my darling, it seems very selfish to have induced you to share such a lot as mine. I should not have da<-ed to do so had I not hoped that my lore would make up for what you have lost ' ' Only love me, Eric,' she answered, with a tremor in her sweet tones — ' only love me, and I shall be happy ! I could not live,' she went, on, with paesionate earnestness, ' without your love ; bo you will not, you must not take it from me.' • As if 1 could. Maudie — as if I could ; or, even were it possible, do you think I would ?' The marriage of Maud Somerset and Eric ' Fortescue was quite a nine days' wonder among her set, and many odd stories were circulated about it. Sometimes it was declared that Maud had taken the initiative in the matter, had proposed to Mr Fortescue and married him off-hand ; and thera was a tiny grain of truth in the earlier part of such a statement. Others opined that she was exceedingly fortunate to have married at all, now that Bhe had lost her fortune, especially after the minner she had behavsd to her numerous suitors while she had been an heiress. One or two of the men thought Eric a lucky fellow to have won such a sweet wife, dowry or no dowry ; said she would make a charming ch&telaine at Sheldon, and wondared who had sst that absurd report afloat that Eric Fortescue was going to India, when there was not a semblance of truth in it And Mr Fletcher and Mr Andrews shook hands warmly over the wedding, and congratulated each other gleefully as they wished the young couple every happiness. While tbey were giving their friends and and. acquaintances something to talk of, Maud and her husband were enj >ying the early spring at Hawthornden, wandering through the lanes which were just donning their fair light green attire, driving about in the village pony-carriage, the one Maud had described to Sir Giles the summer before as a ' wonderful pony-carriage and the funnissfc pony ever seen,' sketching, singing, reading, and being as perfectly happy, or seeming to ba as perfecily happy, as two people could well be in this sublunary sphere. But' the colour did not come back to the young wife's face, and her smile was a little sad and fitful as the day3 went on ; and sometimes her husb*rd wondered a little whether she wore as lighthearted as he would fain have made her, and feared that the prospect of leaving Eigland was a little diitas^eful to her j hut, whenever he touched upon it, the answer was such a quick, earnest * Anywhere with you, Erie,' that he would not press the matter, and had decided thai it was sorrow at leaving her guardian which sometimes c'ouded Maud's face and' brought such pathos and sufEoring into the depths of her lustrous eyes. Ah, that it had been so— that it had been so indeed ! ' What can be the meaning of this ?' said Eric Fortescue, as they sat at breakfast one morning in Mrs Holmes's dining -roomi andhe was glaneihg over his letters. * Andrews must be dreaming ?' '. Ib is hardly likely that a lawyer should; be dreaming, Eric,' returned Maud quietjly. • What is it all aboub ?' ! Eric' was looking at the letter he held with a very puzz'ed ' countenance, and apparently absorbedfin its contents j bud it not been so, he would, have noticed that the colour hart faded out of the fair face ppposite to him> ajnd that his wife's hand shook so strangely that she found; it impossible 'to.lifthar cvp -to her; Jin*.;, ■ , {Tp lf, continued,) ■ v?.