JOHN HORTON'S WARD

Bruce Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 2957, 3 May 1898, Page 3

JOHN HORTON'S WARD

BY GROSYENOR BUN^Tl^y^o G]/ . fl c Qfik&s Of 91 Arte Felton, The B^evai's V&lfe, fit enstoaac's Btc VftEUC^jJJTnles of Crimes and^JT pialst ;i^t«B*iv n : ; " ;

CHAPTkk VI (CteTNiritt^ i Philip Verners's Story, 1 Well, as I have' said, tn"e little "girl often accompanied me on my shorter voyages ; but she was always carefully attended to.. ..Whether an, undefined suspicion led my father to -take extra precautions when entrusting his child to my care, I know not ; I only know that rre-tiid take those precautions. Yet I scarcely think he doubted me — t'was inconsistent in the face of his trust. 1 suppose that it was what eant calls a natural solicitude for the perfect safetyAOf ?his- brat. , I may add here, tharher'niotirer;' havlrfg^die'd in giving her birth, feg£,gracias Christi, the girl's health was feeble; and it was.for.the.sake_ of. strengthening her constitution by change of ate thKt? she was permitted to sail so often on my voyages.-" Wei I^l waited with ; p.atlence fully two years. Tn the meantime, rumours of my merry p*mks had reached Government, and my father had interrogated me concerning them." In reply, I solicited the fullest investigations, knowing- full well that my agents would hush up all the talebearing by bribes. And they did, for a time,, at. anyxaJ;e/^At last jmy turn came. On trie island of "Luzon "tfiere resided a Spanish adventurer, who, for tome playful freak with the knife, -had been compelled to seek-refuge;: among the wild bands ofxojbbers which infest the whole of. the Philipine group. I came ; across- Siis-'rfiariv ' a'nfi£ speedily dUco^rered gjat. he, of all others, was the one" to serve me.' 7 Aribtiief Vh'oni you know weIVS-pat^fc, eh ?' • * Pshaw !' cned^Spaf kle, with '-cohriderable irritation? r &»Pray cease your •pptaTs to me. ■•"Fmrsh your s.tor'y.' lAh ! ah 4 l; -laughed' Yerners, as he drank off another glass of brandy. * What a tender conscience you have. WeUrbe-it -so; Another— person-=-a&_ freat a villain^as myself, Sparkle,' «ad ( loqke&^wth-sihistex e^es-aporf. hls^friend^f^gi^'to'a^! s6t irK the abaction pjf. "trjel^My;.."JlV;^. afragged, that a .douWei.'-ptbrii-^puld come :s to us of : adveatare. reflection had tay|?tt;roe ; tbat of Oie girl migKCnlCiedre tpeT&s''T : at first hoped ;-antfc;t&si again I dreaded! that my share in the matter might crop up. I resolved trrerefore-'to steal -the child, place her in Pordacio's hands, let them demand a ransom, and so manage, that, through my agency, the recovery should take place. My friends agreed with me, and entered into the plot. It was rarely conceived. The opportunity^cc^reds during: one of my tradiVig" trips'- to the -Sourtirern portion of Luzon. The coast, as you .know> Sparkle— well, never mind— is : thickly/ ; wooded4-lve: haunt of : robbers and runaway convicts — and hereitwas arranged that our plan should be carried out. I* remember that my ..father, upon this occasion, evinced ■Sotne disinclinafion : to "'permit .. his daughter to accompany me. Certain it is that he provided her with additional attendants, and that he was more, emphatic _thart usual in his injunctions to me to care' for , her safety. I laughed at his anxiety. Yet he seeme.4 apprehensive, and, had it not been that the child was ailing, would not, I think, have allowed her to go with me. However, he did, and I thought all was well- : ? Well, ! we sail edefor our short trip..,., \Ve made a smart run clear o( the bay— the Bay of Beauty, s as we €ttlP if there — and came to, our destination by the evening of the second day. I ' remember that it was as night of stn|ulaic C loyeliness. The stars shone jQrtjy Q m ynads ;-:the air was warm and sceated. Olive, the child, was seated on the deck of the schooner — two females with her, one an old woman, the other a mere girl, little older than her mistress. " Curses light on the imp.— : it.w,as she. to , whom I owed the failure' of my scheme.'

*My dear Philip,' cried Sparkle, who appeared highly interested,- .* had you^taken'my advice-*^-**---*--'---** : - L - Here Sparkle paused in some confusion. -"•-*

Philip Verners regarded him with a mocking smilerahd'Mr- Snapped with his usual critical air.

s 'Humphi',* Grieg the -.latter, 'you let the cat out of the "bag ' then, my dear sir. r .So, yqu too, had a finger in the pie. s 'Whar"a j delicious pair of scamps to be sure,' and Mr Snapper perked his head andrubbed his hands, ~" ancf chuckled in"great apparent enjoyment.

Mr Sparkle, : who s ,had now recovered his customary composure, puffed tranquilly at his cigar, but never answered. ':■■% &ilip VjerriefSj^th a fshort proceeded ': 'We iinehb? Ed for the night in a small bay. The girl and her female attendants retired early,

two armed Malays who had been sent „^witfuber, lying...at dpor, of her "* When 3 th^tiffife* 8 oHh^fpr action, Pordacip and h^fejjpws came up fnd-yiied rte-4ess^r^ There was a faint show of resistance, which was sternly quelled, and shots fired by both sides. My fellows, however, were of course badly armed, and w^re soon overpowered. Poor devils 1j if they had known the truth ! The male servants of the girl were sabred and pitched overboard, followed by the crone who had attended her. We would have sent the Malay girl after them, bad not OUve begged her life ; and l,

al beit/4 1 topic grßat care to, seem ; a prisoner,,, also, in terfere.d,* and saved her. AsTlie desk vis' r spqni^tpld. ; girls ." , were -^carried • away, and - ,we weighed" anchor^'and: made the best* of oux^yay '.back 'fp.^KiiJtl^ ; Tj-iree of my iCteWv-riadtfb^eh^shot " deadr.a^Jd'». another-badly woiindedtilt was necessary l& do J *tMs : iri* order- tfo' carry on the; farce to a successful end. But that was a srq all, matter, news had reached Manilla ere we cast, anchor in the bay, and to my chagiiri and dis* may F.found : myself a pris.oner: ; Nor* did' J learn . a word qpnce'qiing ..the matter .until 1 wasfbrougftt face;|o face with-? O'ive Verners ;and hero young servant. 'There; too, was Pordacio. Another who shj).yiJ.*jiJia^e :^i.*eefl^tHCTe also, was not.' '"""

i Mr Snapper jerked his head over his j shoulder and looked . significantly , at the trdnquil Sparkle; ••■-■ > ; That gentleman, coolly flapping the ashes from his cigar, laughed sneer- ; ingly. 'Goon my dear" Philip,*' said he, c and do not indulge- in .moral. reflections.--" '-^ %.*■ '-' jVi ■■*'-', | Vemers cpndnued : 'The trial was short. it appeared that"" the" little ' devil Carlotta had overheard the conversation between me and — well, a mutual friend .of ours, Snapper. With the quick perception of her race, she had gathered the true import of the words -sfie : fiad • and $ben ;she iN was ;sSeize*^j^;arp^ogether.i^tth. h^r mistress, c^arfi eld aw"ay;~sne' understood' that I was. chjefly implicated in the plot. Sh-eUesta.ped, x^nd, fleeing .by some moUnfaih-path, re'apbqdf'aienifbte.,. plantation. There she told her story, and without 5 delay it was conveyed to Manilla. The band, unprepared and taken unawares, was surrounded arid, dispersed, several— among whom was Pordacio — being captured. ' It was with a dull sense of weariness that I ( sat that night in the clps&cell to whiph I had been confined I did riot fear my fate, which I knew woUtd : be death ; but I ate my heart with rage, to think that all my scheming and plotting Of years gone by- had thus been thwarted. As I sat moodily brooding over my position, the door opened. T-looked up and beheld before me my father. Manacled -as I -was, I should have striven tp -Strangle him,: ; had it hotbeen that I observed less atiger in his facethan sorrow'; ; less- sfeprri th^n; ipity.; For once I gave way to weakness and' wept. ' • ,« , ••' Even as he spoke Philip' "Verri'ers grew a shade' paler,~'arrd~"his — lips* trembled. The wofst is-^iJot wholly lost to some dull sense , pf gratitude, and it may have been that some faint and passing memory pf good returned for evil, then stirred his soul. But its influence was but as a ripple caused by a. faint breeze upon a sheet of water, and died away as soon.

' Well,' he continued, 'he came to offer me. the means' of escape. What he said does not concern us now. He effected my escape, supplied me with funds, and — well, here I am. Being an outlaw by the laws of Spain, I can lay claim to no partof the property ; but I take it that some, means may here be devised by jyhich I can. Let us consider ; and remember, that as I succeed, so do we. all.'

He ceased, arid once'more drinking a large glass of brandy, sank back in his chair as • though- exhausted. The excitement which had animated him during the .-recital .of. .his. story now seemed to yield to" lassitude, and he looked at others as though to ask that, they should now take their turn. Mr* Snappeivassuming. a' brisk and lively air, and having used his pockethandkerchief in a highly professional" manner, was the first to speak.

' It appears to me/ said he, ' that you have jumpedrather rapidly at conclusions." 1 You may be pretty sure, my friend, that your worthy father arranged everything in a strictly legal manner. I, however, see one course which will enable us to secutp ; |he prize, that ijs^to say,vif shejw- a p^e.' •■* jf|, ?\ -*^'- V ' My father must have died" worth fifty .thousand dpUars, Mexican,' cried Verners.

' Hump ! 4 very.,.resg|cjtable sum, 1 said Snapperfi -?-| § .■?". ♦ But yduf~plan-?cG'ried^Verners#rai Sparkle in one voice. 1 Is this,' said the lawyer, perpng^ his pear-shaped head in the mosj| travagant fashion, 'mair? the^&||| woman to our friend Spafkle.'Jf^^^^ 1 What !' cried Verners, .Jb^;£^ oath; < to him!' fi^MS 'And why not, Philip ?!|ii« Sparkle... ; M am sure yoigf|fr|pa*e little to object to in the prg^|ali|For my part, I think it is v^|S|ftsible.:. Let us consider. The la^^^tua^ is say some £13.000. l^yMfe^e^ith 11 hers would be £6000. /rii||6it H&*^ Mr Snapper chuckiedU^essiVfly,, and glanced at Philip Vel^rs\;; JHe sat with his head resting in hiS^hands, his elbows on the table. At last he looteet^'uip.^ "v; >T i?:\ si =i^:;si> m.> & AiWelli',. cried- he_with,an r pgth s .;, ;be . it so. PeVfiaps after alf lshair"serve my hatred ! <i v wy' potketaf^p' better itf:thisi way .than:^r»y^otb,er^i CHA^g|_vip Jk.V: Mr. Sparkle Distinguishes Himself. Meanwhile, how went matters at the Lo^ge ? Olive Verners, unconsciouj ofj

)Mhe commotion her arrival had caused, | ana thcaciion it was leading, to, wailed I patiently for the time when her guar- '; $isft |pssis|rpme. I |Jn|E^tU ; -^rtari t ' srp i)iM(|iit|-iend ¥I^^^ symrf&is^#iM her , tender sensitiveness, and as readily protected rter frbrri those rude" shocks to which one of her nature would -read^y be exp9secl : ,i^const/int associa-. Jtion With ' hard"* anS^ 'unloving" people I .' 1 iVclp Mrs Horton justice, she strove her, bpt to tn Ske th'eh you rig ; "credtur V \, fieeKat ,%£&^ 'Biit, sl^ld^fe:' raffigf!; as a duty* she *QweSrtQ hos^u'^ijyl.ih^a.ai from any warm regard for its object. ! la(Jy^iri>good ; truth, wasiohe of. n those people who, while they are in--capable of inspitirfg affection^; are ; jealoys of its^ 'b\e_stpwar v upon any: 6 ? thef f fi -ißati them selves' j^aiii! siie. sf^s^rf^d5 f^s^rf^d ; th'e^ , a'dV^nt-pf- qrie> wno'i- as /s&e^fqr.esaii^.' v^Quld speedily take heroplaceT in her hefirt:' As-'for-jMissf^Hortoh^ghe ma4e no .disguise^ "lf 'dot. of hertiisljk.e^ of her -lJ>ti& rarjely ' axi^ dressed the young:strangerivancl;when she;did, it was with cold" and studie*ck politeness. " All 'this was^odifleVentto' thepast of Olive's life— 1 a past made sunshine by c 'the j light " of love"- ahd £i Vr.ienfdship— Jjidt she pirte'd..,irf Jprfpvr^ Eduh ev^n,.,W:hQ, .aVone qsi.t|j.e^faim!iiy,.. sought to: make her brother's ward, Kapp/, was. riot; sucbessful :r in wholly' alhiyXng the surprised s.efi^.e of injustice; and- cruelty .whicrt'OiivelMt Under the" circumstances of her life at the Lodge. She did her best, however, and the two yotmg girls were rarely seen Apart. As, fj?r Caflotta, Olive's; rnaidy ; she spent her jjays i'n shivering so'littide m'her' mistress's apartment, singing tho.se wild and plaintive airs (halPSpanish and "half Indian); .which belong to her countryr HereHtoo, Olive found consolation.. Like all.Sp.a&isb Cieplgs, she played her guitar admirably, and unlike most cpanish Creoles, sh« possessed a sweetvsympli|helic"vpicj^ , Bp % canie tg pa^sSthat. ejei : a^ee^:|iad"gbner over heV'pew life; she found Klerself cast back upp.a..h.er .Qwn thoughts and resources — an alien in her:' home. It is true that with punctjli'ous" politeness Mrs Horton ihtrbduced . her guest to acquaintances, and that upon every fine afternoon she invited her to accompany the family for a drive. At first Olive enjoyed these drives immensely. The aspect of li'fe in this country was strange to her, and she enjoyed its contemplation, as the young alone enjoy. When we begin to pluck out the grey hairs, and ruefully contemplate the crows' feet around our eyes, it is different, is it not-? :• ; ■ f

But even, this passed at last. Tn truth it was' ho wonder. This eager enthusiasm of the young creature's nature was so carefully held in check by Mrs and Miss Horton that she grew to dread anycircumstancesunder which association with those ladies was involved. All this was noted by Edith, who did her ; best to lessen the vn T happiness under whicb-.OUve suffered*. :Her kindly sympathy did much towards -this end ;and;oliye,. to whom the indulgence of her affectionate nature was as necessafy as air, food,, or drink, grew to love her guardian's sweet sister with agfeatand 'eage'riove indeed.

Matters stobd just" the same, when one morning Mrs Horton .announced that she intended that' evening to attend the opera, and asked if Miss Verners would accompany them. Olive, who was passionately fond of music and dramatic spectacles, eagerly assented. . . ' ; .' I presume that you have never been present 'at the representation of opera,' said Miss Horton. ' Ofi, yes,', answered the girl. *We have'a finebpera-house at Manilla, and papa. often tppkjne there.' • Indeed-I.J was under the Jinpression that ball-fights constituted ; the hightest order of amusement among you people.' -....-. 'You were in error then,' answered Olive, .with a heightened colour, for : there was* no mistaking the object of the speaker. 'I dare fb say ' that general society in Manilla is quite as intellectual and refined, if not more so, as it is here.' ... .jytrs Horton looked up with some interest; . Then she nodded her head "as she reflected : ' This is exactly what I thought. The girl has a high spirit and a fiery temper.' Miss Horton, who was languidly chipping an egg, smiled superciliously as she replied: f No doubt. Yet it seems to me that if the society of a colony of Spain is of such a high order, it has achieved a position which does ■ not characterise the. society ■ of Spain herself.' '■*' ;'-'*'. ',;* .*-? ',. v 'Miss Horton, -^ho- delivered' this sentence after the arbitrary manner of "thelashTonabTe BTu'e stocking,' "arid as though every, word she uttered tasted \^ell] t£en£ft^yoted| herself to her Breakfast. ;-.*.,,/ WT .| £ $ Olive made no reply, though Edith .marked in her quivering lips and burning cheeks how painfully she was i!sj-.Q.ved. -"All that day she was unusually ;' spewed and silent. The petty insult • -fto^which she had been subjected rasklld in her heart, and Edith, who wdiild;. have consoled, found to her pan^^iat the little maiden f repelled her ad*ff|ces with a quiet decision that :soe was no mistaking.

-.f That evening Olive dressed with • uhusil^l*; care. Of course she knew beautiful. What pretty ;|id;is lSlijnd to these matters ? But to dp Qli^e^ustice, the fact of her beauty did -not usually absorb so much of her thought and care as is usually the case "with* the ? fair sex.; ■•■•* -.; • • t.--.- ■■*,* • ricOriUthis .:eyemng---hpwey-er she appeared determined to look, her best. I navV'said "that she was Very *benuii ful, and those with whom she now lived 'dwned readily' endugb-r^since there was -S6tdi*sp'tiU*ft}^tbeiact— that there were '^flw yourfg'Tadife^in" society who could eclipse her. But beauty of itself is not, everything. It is often marred and rendered vulgar by those who own it. Indeed this is generally the case, j

Women ,rar.el ? leamjiow.to. df c§s well until thgy haye^passed jtheir ...spring.., taste in U^e c satr2f3%fiic ? h^m^(^ inborn; W^iet ! iirftVyw6me»^ She knew tlfSeffe'ckof a^judicipWmi&urev J of colafurs, and could produce a happier' result by^heuse^f ja-Joo^^f lib.bon, or a spray ; of flo^s/4s^: , t5 :^ -,achieved bv arfc""-bf' arcssmaker or i: •milhnff;* -' ,-,,'. ' a - s 'r " '' r , { T(liligrit;*^ ;i srie ibokl^inWher^a smile of gratified pride crossed . ,\sr!ttibe, * they shall see,' she raiitiercd,, J Twhetihier- t .we {ane ithe barbarians >thej;| wouldi have 'fUS.-^r? -■ f .5 ito : '>r,:: -r" I ; : ' -Then- she descjendjjd ta-thet, i^o^.. . in which Mrs i .Hor^Gn ap'^|erd>iu|fitefs ■Wfere avjfiitmgjver. tairfottaf,^lojolnngfover the ; blisters as ; her]j/piihg'rriiBtrefeB ; ■crowed' trie hall, ' iiftered' ■an 'fex'Glatna- :: tiori of^felight; ' '' U* x' -^- - "XW\ ®* e S iris Entered this rooirt^the ■.. 'ladies could not forbear an utterance .of,, surprise. ; ; On ,Edith?s part 4y?% a]§p o pn^of delight, and coming ■ lprvvar(3',/' sli^'affectionately congraJuliUd Oli^e upon 5 her appearance.'' ; '* ? ' (iu<i u \ v . c You look c^a^mingi' dear,' : lfhe srhispered.' " ' lri • '■$■■ ■?-- ; vy6u have Excellent (a§fe, J MtSs r cried Mrs Horton. j-^ Miss said nothing) '• but shefcoiiild not concealthe annoyance which !;»yai reflected in Her 'face, and-which, of ; . itself, iwas' perhaps the best, :; Jtr]bpte. to the girUs loveliness which .could have., been .paid. ..;_„.,. £ The theatre.that evening wascrowded. I think the opera of Sonambula was represented, Madame Escott an'd' Mr Squires being ttre' chief performers. They who temerriber ithdse *da'ys^;willeasily understand me when I say the;,; dress-circle was filled, with beautiful womfen,- and ■ that o,uf of no finer sight could haye f vbeen seen than . that night represented. It was" a bespeak night; and society wa^ presbnt. Society in those days meant something different to what it signifies now. There was then some little limit to the pretentions of democracy, but now there is no surprise if you elbow your tailor or barber at a ball or dinner party, for my part, I liked the old fashion best.

The entrance of tlie Hortons—who were of the best set — attracted the attention of those already assembled; Miss Horton, who wagia belle, naturally inspired t he-attention -which- society accord to beauty. But, to-night, there was not a little curiosity exhibit-efd Jr\ the well-bred murmur and stir whiclvthe entrance of the party usually excited. Pn. u fnottr - had '--'beett th e foreign beauty.w.b^o \ya§ Uying with the Mortons, and ' as ift&al*' rumour had woven a hundred*^.nd : one,rpin-an.tic and impossible storieV'tP act6hnt for her visit. '■• * ,;/ A muttering of surprised admiralion ran, through the circle as the young girl's loveliness burst upon those present. I anuiot siire that Olive \yas .unconscious of this tribute to her attractions,, but I know that her cheeks became suffused byr-blushiqg and,. her soft, dark eyes flashed with pleasure. If was^ very pleasant to see Olive blush. Her -cfear broWn skin was so transiiarerit'that-the rich blood globed through it just as- a glorious glance of the sun lights up the Western sky.. .We have aHjioticed how the audience upon these occasions, from pit to gallery, concentrates its attention, while waiting for the rising of the curtain, -upon its fashionable element. The gallery boy takes as evident interest in the arrival of the 'swells'-- their looks; raiment, and behaviour— as the more refined occupant of the stalls, who -turns his eyes upon every pretty woman in turn. It is not wonderful, therefore, that Olive — whose appearance, apart from her natural beauty, was relished with the appetite of curiosity — became the object; Of general attention. All this added fuel to the fire 'of,. .dislike which animated Mrs. Hocton and her elder daughter.-' Nor -was it acceptable to EditH, who ;foresSW danger '-'in the adulation with.which, it, .was evident, Olive was

i &w v it'W^p"^fsi!?4'tliat.'upon this particular: occasion !Hr Sparkle had treated -himself- to a -Stall ticket.: .. 'Mr Sparkle was of taste. He liked : every thing- -of 'the best. The sixpenny ... restaurants 'which %have*> crapped up since his time would "have raised his girge. I have known him, indeed,* starve on hatf-a-crown, preferring tp wait until he had saved a crown, that be might dine; royally at Spiers and Pond's cafe; So with his other indulgences. He loved art, but ?cpuid.n'pt understand its contemplation )froir^;tn.e: gallery ..ari^ :nip^ T; than: he could understand eatiftg^spafagus rntM an iron; fork. Mr- Sparkle then, -was ;am'ong. those who we?e .attracted by the jeiUrattce^f toe^Hortphs. ''■'"' They had secured a seat in .tb'e, front rpw,: ajid Olive, by some accident, was placed by Miss Horton ! s side. The contrast •in their beauty was very marked. Miss Hortori -was a blonde, ::■. cold, "passive, and 'bloodless ' ; —Olive a brunette, [and warM;- passionate, i4nd* yiyacipus. . Miss Horton had.the worst of it. Mr ] Sparkle, who tfas^pttev ot . those; extras ; ordinary persons^ whose f; : 'rfiem6Ty ! strengthen^ with .jtrmg,, lppked ; at th.c ? girl hei; : directly he cast. eyes_ upon her. The reader may infer;that%is~mernory arose out pllithe . pepurrertte ,v^hich Philip Verners had related n and.|t" was, therefore, npSmatter- of surprise' that. Mr Sparkle,, as he lpokeduppn Olive^grew grave awf-S^ tion that the little "girl" In ' whofee"destruction he r hadbeea*iaiP.assLye.apcQjn-r, plice^Ws nc^befcire'nim^-a^beautifui woman — was of itself su*fei*§nt::tPlinspir'e hinTwitfi--*cor^used^,,j*^f'sj&ggestive thoughts. Thi&was the -girl it was proposed ,he;shpuld;|narry^ ri^ hpth-aught this, he experienced a thrill of pleasure to whieb hitherto he had been a straneer. To Be ContinvK'.