THE PRESUMPTIRN OF LORD BELEVER.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12392, 4 January 1906, Page 10

THE PRESUMPTIRN OF LORD BELEVER.

Br C. N. and A. M. Wilm-Msok (Authors of "The Lightninjr Conductor," etc.)

Otitsido tho little station at Cava- del Tirrcni, three days Lerore Christmas, a croud of interpreters, porters, hotel touts, and catinen were awaiting tho arrival of tho quick train from Naples. As it drew up in the station ond the first travellers mado their appearance at the exit, thero rose a Babel of voices. Conspicuous among tho vehicles in waiting was a smart English-looking four-in-hand, driven by a h_n_some, aquiline-faced young man, so dark of skin that he might well have passed for an Italian. At tho heads of the impatient horses stood an impassive English groom.

Young Lord Beiever, who was driving his own coach, scanned eagerly, from under the brim of his smart bowler, tho persons who camo crowding out of tho station. His eyes lighted with pleasure as a girl appeared in tho doorwqy, followed by an older lady, and two porters, carrying luggage and wraps. A dash of Parisian smartness in the lines of tho well-cut travelling dress and tho perfectly-fitting boots, a more than Anglo-Saxon frankness and independence of carriage, announced the girl as an American. She was slim and tall, with dark-lashed, grey eyes, and chestnut hair that curled "upon her, white neck in distracting tendrils. She walked with a gracious, elastic step, like ono accustomed to admiration and obedience. There was kindliness in tho candid grey eyes, determination in the well-formed chin, pride in. the haughty curve of tho short upper lip. The lady who accompanied the beauty of nineteen was twenty years older, and tho rc_ombl„nce in features showed them to bo mother and daughter. A driver bent down from the box of his carriage, and, in answer to a question from the young lady, in elementary Italian, demanded fourteen francs for th_ drive to Amain.

"But 'Baedeker' 6ays tho tariff is five francs'or six," expostulated tho girl., Her Italian was fluent, if tho grammar was a little shaky. Lord Beiever, from his high tox-soat, heard every word. • 'Baedekerl" The Italian driver snapped liis fingers with, a gesture of contempt. "Fourteen francs is the fare." , ' Tli3 girl bit her lip. She thought she was being cheated, and that made her angry. . , . -, "Perhaps we had better take him and havo dono with it, dear," suggested the elder lady. "It doesn't matter much, you know. There aro not many carriage- left. If we barsain too long, we may get none." "Mamma," exclaimed the beauty, "I hate to be cheated!" She looked round, and catching _ight of Belever's pawing, glossy bays, her pleased eyes travelled in one glance up to tho box-seat, where- the young man sat looking eagerly down on her. "Why, mamma," exclaimed tho girl, "if there isn't a perfectly lovely coach, and I believe tho man wants to drive ufll"

"It's sure to be mdre than the cab, dear." "How much to drive us to Amalfi? "Five francs each ladies," was the prompt answer in good Italian, the language in which the coachman had been addressed. "Bene I" came the quick reply, and tho girl signed to the porters to put the bags and wraps inside tlio coach. The groom, hiding n grin, ran with a ladder; the elder lady mounted to a place behind tho • driver, tlio beauty climbing to the box-seat. With a flick of tho long whip tho bays dashed forward;' in another moment tho flashing coach was rattling over the rough stone pavement of tho little town of -Cava, and down the sloping country road that followed tho winding ravine to the sparkling sea. "I call this too glorious for words!' The beauty's cheeks were tinged with carmine, brought there by the tingling tea air that blew up tho ravine; her eyes sparkled. "Aren't we in luck, mamma, to have got such seats on this •plendid coach and with such a driver, too? See how well he handles the reins! And his profile looks as if he were cast in bronze." "Take core, Lesley! Are you sure he doesn't understand you, dear?" "Oh, that's all right! Very few of these Italian drivers know moro than two or three word- of English." Then the girl began to talk Italian to the coachman, ond he answered her in the same tongue, fluently and courteously. Beiever could speak Italian nearly as well as his own language, and Lesley's knowledge was not deep enough to detect his tew slips. Ho felt guilty, but dared not betray his nationality now, lest the ladies should insist on being put down at the next village. Suddenly at a bend of the steep road, they came 111 sight of the sea, with a picturesque hamlet of whito and pink nnd yellow houses climbing up the cliff, terrace above terrace, a high viaduct spanning a learning stream. "Vietri!"—Bclver pointed with his ■whip and held his horses well in hand as they swept over the viaduct, and started at a gnilop up the opposite hill. The ladies sat silent, spellbound by the boauty suddenly opened to them. "Well, Mamma," cried Lesley, turning in her place, '*we ye had a splendid time in Europe, haven't we? "We've seen and done such a lot of things. But I believe I like Italy best of all. Of course Egypt was gorgeous, and. Greece was lovely—" "And England " prompted tho , mother.

"England was sweet. But it was disappointing in one way. Only fancy oiir not meeting oiie single, solitary,. real, live lord. I shall be ashamed to go

homo. My country expected it of mc. And—l failed. Such a shame we should have missed Lord Beiever! When I bought three new dresses on purpose, too 1" N

Bolever started. This was a nice scrapo he had got himself into. But he didn't see any Tray out of it now. He could not suddenly exclaim, "Behold I am Lord Beiever!" He had seldom been more uncomfortable, but tho worst of it was that he found himself, base enough to snatch a fearful jcy from the situation.

"I daresay he would have been most uninteresting when you came to know him," the girl's mother proceeded to console her.

"But the Dering-Lacys said ho was awfully clever and good-looking, don't you remember? I was so looking forward to our one country-house visit in England; and, of course, it was very nice, bub it did seem an anti-climax when the very man I'd been invited to flirt with never turned up after all. Oh, what he missed!" and she laughed. Beiever could cheerfully have kicked himself. To think that he might havo met this divine creature in a decent, self-respecting manner, if only he hadn't sent an unworthy excuse to those good but dull people, the Dering-Lacys.

A flick from tho driver's long lash made the near leader bound forward. He had to suffer because his master had suddenly discovered himself to bo an unmitigated ass. How delighted he had been when he saw the girl get out of tho train at Cava! What a magnificent joke he had thought it when she had taken him for an Italian and the driver of a public coach 1 What a chance it had seemed after his failure to get into the Hotel Bristol at Naples, where he had seen her and her mother go in, and, therefore, longed to be there also. Ho had called fortune his friend only a short hour ago, because this was absolutely the most bewitching girl ho had ever seen in his lifo, and he had felt it unendurable to let her go like a ship that passes in the night.

But now—now the rosy mist of disillusion had suddenly risen to reveal the hill Difficulty under which his own foolishness had led him. After what had just been said between the mother and daughter, how was it possible tliat he could ever introduce himself in hi 6 own character?

Through inquiries he had learned at the Bristol that the Ladies wero Mrs and Miss Fleetwood, but somehow he had failed to associate the name with that of tho American heiress with whom tho Dering-Lacys had tried to tempt him a few weeks ago. And in his bjinduess h« had rejoiced in the thought of meeting tho girl at Amalfi, whither he haa ascertained from tho hotel-porter that they were going, and whither he had already purposed driving in his coach, which had lately won honours in the coaching meet at Naples.

These desperate reflections drove the hitherto -loquacious coachman into an abstracted 6ilence. He answered vaguely the questions with which Lesley did not cease to ply the "perfectly lovely coachman with the bronze profile." He was actually relieved when he stopped his horses at the foot of the long flight of steps that wound up the cliff to the, Hotel Gappuccini.

His mind was in a tumult. He, too, was due at the Cappuccini, where his room was engaged - } but now-he hesitated to go and claim it, ond to appear in his own person before the American ladies. The craven thought came into his mind that he should run away; then lie half resolved to declaro himself at "once. He had been unable to decide upon a course of action when the ladies were prepared to descend from the coach. Then he overheard Lesley whisper«to her mother. " He's been so nice and intelligent, don't you think we might give him a. coupie of francs for himself?" Before he could speak, the girl had placed twelve francs in his h_hd, wishing him a smiling good-bye. Beiever hesitated. To 6peak, or not to speak—which was wiser in the mind of man? But he found himself maintaining his part by uttering a deferential "Molte grazle, Signorina." His manner was changed, however, his gaiety eclipsed, ana his dark eyes fell guiltily before the frank, friendly gaze of the American girl.

Beiever turned hi 6 smoking team, and walked them back to their stable in 'the town, where ho left coach and horses in the hands of his groom. Strolling slowly back to the Capuccini steps his courage suddenly returned to him. He would face the music, brave out the situation, and trust to his own tact and the ladies' sense of humour to save the position. One thing only was impossible—to give up the adventure and see the girl no more. He mounted the many steps, received a warm welcome from the kaji-some and effusive Italian landlord, and in the Visitor's Book set a firm, clear "Beiever, England," immediately under the clever, characteristic writing in which Lesley had inscribed the names of "Mrs and Miss Fleetwood, New York, U.S.A."

Until the gong clashed out the hour of dinner, Beiever kept his room, writing letters, 6lowly changing into his evening clothes, stopping eveiy now and then to lean upon his window-ledge, and gaze out upon the incomparable beauty of Amalfi. Ho was among the earliest persons in the long vaulted dining-room, once the refectory of the Capuchins, and a word in the ear, and a coin in the hand of the head waiter, procured him a place next to Miss Fleetwood. This arranged, he retired a littio, and mingled with the throng of Germans, English, French, and 'Americans, who were trooping in to dinner. In a moment or two, lie _aw Mrs Fleetwood and her daughter coming in from the reading-room, Lesley in a 'simple but charming white evening Bress, shining, in his eyes, among the other women hue a rare flower among weeds.

When the two ladies were seated. Beiever giasped his courage m both hands, and, with a thumping heart, tcok the vacant place by Lesley's side. . The

girl IOOKea up. Xier eyes wiueneu mm wonder as she gave him a quick, surprised glance; then a gleam of merriment flashed into her face; and a rich, warm biush- reddened her cheeks, tingeing even with the shell-like ear. Beiever saw, with infinite relief, that the first encounter was to be decided in his favour. He smiled and bowed, looking very handsome in bis evening dress. " I hope," he ventured, " that you are not tired after your drive." Mns Fleetwood was looking at him across her daughter. "Is it possible—-?".she had begun. "I'm afraid it is, Mamma," Lesley cut in mischievously. "Somewhere there's been a very big mistake. Whether ifs our fault or this gentleman's, I don't know." "Let mc take all the blame," eaid Beiever hastily, "if blame there be, for letting myself appear to be. what I am not. It was hard to withstand the temptation of having two ladies as companions on the drive." "And I—made personal remarks and gave you two francs for yourself!" Lesley threw up two little hands in horror. "It was the smcerest compliment I ever received," said Beiever. "I-shall always keep the coin in recollection of the pleaeantc-t drive of my life." He was wonderfully happy again by this tme. "And that was really your own coach, and you are not an Italian?" "I am as little Italian as you are. I drive my coach for my own pleasure about this ccast. I havo rented one of those old watch towers which we passed on the way, and am having it furnished and fitted up for mo now. It would give mc great pleasure if you and your mother will take tea with mc there one afternoon." "That would be delightful," Lesley exclaimed, but her forehead had a little thoughtful pucker, and she spok-6 abstractedly. Beiever feared that she was trying to recall tho things she had said in English to her mother in the couice of tho drive, and to keep her from a reflection that might be dangerous to himself, he dashed into conversation. Beiever could talk well; Lesley was witty and bright, and in a few moments they were far on the road to-= wards acquaintance. Mrs Fleetwood was talking to on English lady on her left, and Beiever had the girl all to liimself. He was falling in love as fast as a man possibly could, and was congratulating himself on his marvellous luck, when Lesley shot at him a question that set his blood tingling. He had expected and dreaded it, yet had hoped that it might be put off until he had been able to establish a friendship with the girl on a firm footing. "By the way," Lesley was saying, "we saw "in. the visitors' book that Lord Beiever is in the hotel. He seems to have arrived to-day, for his name is just under ours. Do you happen to know him?"

'Lesley had glanced curiously as she spoke along the row of diners, lingering over their nuts, and now she turned full to her companion. In spite of himself, he flushed scarlet. He was beginning a stammering reply, when the look on the girl's face checked his words. The truth had flashed into her understanding like & lightning-stroke, and she was enduring bitter mortification when she remembered how freely she had 6poken of him in his own hearing. Her face finst crimsoned, then froze into icy haughtiness. Beiever looked at her beseechingly, and would have spoken had she not stopped him with a gesture. She murmured something to her mother, both ladies rose, and, turning their backs on Beiever •without a word or sign, they joined the crowd moving from the room. The young man had risen also, and stood helplessly staring after them. At a touch his card-castle had tumbled'into ruin.

The lamps in the long white house were nearly all extmguished when at last Beiever went to bed, but not to sleep. As soon as it was light nexfc morning, he was dressed and out, ond, taking a small boat on tho beach, he pulled out beyond tho tiny pier that forms the harbour cf Amalfi. Resting on his oars, he looked up to the quaint, white hotel.

Suddenly a window was thrown open, and a graceful figure, dressed in some loose, white morning wrapper, stepped out on to the balcony. It was she! Belever's heart beat fast os ho looked up at the girl he had loved at first sight standing with one little hand shading her eyes from the sun, drinking in the beauty of the scene. Presently she looked down, as it seemed, into his very eyes. He thought she recognised him, for with an impatient movement she hastily went in, closing the window after her.

Dejectedly Beiever rowed ashore and mounted the long flights of stops to the hotel. He thought of packing up liia tilings at once, and finding another lodging until his own place should be ready for habitation; but a certain obstinacy in his nature held him from this course. After all, was he co much •to blame? Had he done a thing too bad for forgivenes_? If he frankiy apologised to the ladies, ought they not to forget his impulsive error of taste and receivo him- again on a footing of friendship ? He determined to seize the first opportunity for an explanation. He had not long to wait, for as he was passing down the long corridor ou his way to the salle-a-manger for breakfast, a door opened in front of him, and Lesley herselt appealed from her bedroom in a becoming dress of poppy-col-oured cloth. She had not seen him, but he overtook her at the head of the 6tairs that led, down to tho diningroom.

" Miss Fleetwood—" He had begun appealingly, when ,_he turned on him a look so full of resentment that tho words died on his lips. She passed him with a hardening of the dainty featuns and her pretty chin in the air. Beiever fell back, biting his lip. For the next two or three hours he wandered wretchedly about the ancient town, and presently found himself again at the little port, where he began to talk with one 01 the Italian masons employed on the works for the strengthening of the pier. Suddenly this man oroke off in _.'i explanation he was giving of the means by which they transported and sunk tho heavy blocks of concrete, and raised a warning finger. With startled eyes he was looking up at the great cliff that rose above the harbour.

"Did you not hear that, Signore?" he asked in an awed whisper. "It is tho mountain working. That is the third time since breakfast I have heard it creak and strain. At six this morning tho Hotel Santa Caterina cracked."

"Good heavens! the cliff will fall?"

Do you mean that

"I think there is great danger, Signore. We have had a fortnight's rain, and the building of the Hotel Santa Caterina there has weakened tho base of the mountain. I shall go and call the Syndic."

The man started at a run along the highway to tho town. Beiever - gazed fearfully up at the huge impendiug cliff. As he looked, a group of peref>ns ran out from the Caterina, and stood on the terrace gesticulating. They, too, had taken the alarm. Suddenly two ladie3 detached themselves from the group and darted back into the house. The landlord called after them in vain; then, after a moment of irresolution, he and his servants who were with him rnshed to the high road, away from the threatening shadow of the cliff.

Far above him Beiever could see that many persons had come out of the Hotel Capuccini, and were assembled on the terrace looking towards the overhanging part of the mountain. He recogni_ed the flowing whiskers of old Signor Vozzi, the landlord, and could see the white aprons and the bright dresses of the servants mingling with the darker costumes of the hotel guests.

Then on the terrace to the left of* the house, beyond the cloister-, just under tho grotto, he detected a gleam *of poppy colour, and, staring hard, he recognised Lesley Flee-wood, walking slowly up and down, all unconscious of the-danger that threatened her. With a shout, Beiever started for the grotto. It was approached by a long flight of steps which turned two or three times unto they reached the terrace of tho Efrotito. A frightened group of persons on tho high road cried to him to come back; people on the terrace above saw him and waved their arms excitedly. He saw or heard,- but, springing up the steps with great strides, in a few moments was standing panting by Lesley's side. They wero alone on the white platformalone at this end of the hotel. The girl looked up suddenly, and her face flushed. She turned from him impatiently. "Miss Fleetwood, there is great danger: the mountain will fall," he cried excitedly. "You must come at once! "Must!" repeated the girl, with a surprised lifting of tho eyebrows. "This is no time for ceremony, _ ho answered, "tbe peril is near. Your mother and everyone has run out from the hotel." , , , _ "Are, you afraid?" She looked at him half mockingly, half disdainfully. "I am afraid for you. I entreat you to come at once.' , "Thank you. I prefer to stay where I am, and to be alone." . With this there came from above a shower of looso stcno and dust that poured from the edge of tho cliff oyer their heads. ~ ''You see!" he cried. "My witness."Nonsense!" said Lesley sharply. A servant told mo those stalactites and things always fall after rain. Fray lose no time in saving yourself from the terrible' danger!'' . Down canjo another stone. -iicre was a strange sound, mysterious, indescribable, that came from the mountain. It wats as if a giant imprisoned msidwere stirring cautiously. Tlio man and the girl looked into each other's eyes, defiance in hers, pleading in his. But suddenly a hot wave seemed to rush through Beiever s veins. With a wild shout Iran below ringing in his ears lie caught the girl up in his arms as if sho had been a child. The mountain groaned. Beiever sprang from under the arch of the grotto, and, as if that fettered giant grudged the loss of his prey, there came a great roaring which- filled the air and confused the young man's senses. With a tremendous crash a huge mass of rockplunged down from the roof of the grotto upon tho very spot where, an instant ago, the two had stood, smashing _ into fragments the concrete pavement of tho platform. Tho ground shook under Bekvcr's feet; the earth seemed to quake as if it were turned to a jelly. Deafened, half blind, unable to think, ho still ran on, Lesley quiet as death agaipst his shoulder. Running down the few steps towards tho hotel, wliich lay below tlio grotto in the rock, he reached the cloisters. Something seemed compelling him to look up. Tho whole mountain appeared to be felling. In the midst of a rushing mass from above three human figures detached themselves, shooting downward, limp as dolls made of rags, yet dignified into supremest tragedy. "A few seconds and we shall be like that," were tho words that flashed through Belever's brain. Still, though ho wa» hopeless now, instinct made him run on—on for dear life—not his own, but hers, wliich he would give himself to save, if saved it still might be. Hardly had the thought of what might come printed itself before his eyes, when the whole great overhanging mass of cliff broke away and fell headlong. It descended upon the platform they had left, and swept- it out of existence, carryin- it down the mountain with the bounding rocks and stones. Beiever saw no more; he only heard and felt. With every step ho took tho earth seemed to fall away behind him where his feet had touched it last. Now they were in the chapel. It was like a dream to bo there. Tho soft dusk, the peace,' the faint suggestion of incense, tho lighted candles—m honour of the Christmas season—on the altar, and dotted about among the quaint: little Oriental figures of the crib,', or- "prescipio" all seemed unreal, a mirage ot peace in the presence of great danger. The rushing noise, like an advancing tidal wave, grew louder. From the doorway through, which lie had just come, Beiever could see what was happeningi He saw a huge flying boulder strike the roof of the hotel, crush it in, and break away the wall beneath, as if the solid ancient's'-'ure, which had weathered the storn, i eight hundred years, had been a -Jiouse of cards, set up by the hands of a child. For a moment he believed that the whole building would go, and he and the girl he loved w|i'th it. But ho heard tho thunder of tho landslide as it swept down to the sea, engulfing the Santa Caterina as it went, and throwing a towering wall of water that rushed in upon tho beach. Then a great silence fell, broken only by the far-away shouting of human voices, sounding strangeiy small and feeble after Nature 's.say, go uproar. Nothing more happened. Ihcy were saved. . Lesley liad clung to him speechless, almost breathle_s, and Beiever had clasped her tightly, hardly knowing how tightly. But now he gently released her. As he did so, she fell away from him, half fainting, and he caught her again, with his arm round her waist. "For Heaven's sake tell mo that 'you've not hurt—that no stone struck you as we came?" he stammered. "No," she whispered, for all strength was gone from her, and she could not spsak aloud. "No—but you—there's a streak of blood on your forehead. Oh, how can I ever foregive myself? You might have been killed. It "was all— all my fault. I was a wretch. You ought to have gone and left mc." "I'd rather havo been killed than do that," said Beiever. He had forgotten to let her go. She had forgotten to draw herself away, and so they still stood together, these two enemies, she leaning slightly against him, he with bis arm round her waist. .

"Oh, why do you say that?" 6ho faltered. "I was so obstinate—so wicked. I deserved anything. . I wonder you cared." "But you see, I loved you," said Beiever quite simply. "If the end had to come, I wanted it'to come for mo too." It did not seem in the least strange that he should be telling her this, though she had never seen him until yesterday, and had refused to speak to him this morning. They had known each other always,' now, and they could never go back to being strangers again.

She did hot answer, or even appear surprised; but when her eyes had left his, they wandered all about the chapel thinking how beautiful it looked, and how sacred it seemed, and how good it w_s to be there.

"I hope—" she began; but what she hoped Beiever was not to know, for a pal© woman appeared at the door, leading into the chapel from the hotel, opposite the entrance from tho cloisters, and, at sigfct of the two figures standing together in the jewelled twilight, broke into sobs.

"Lesley—thank Heaven 1" she ejaculated. "I've searched everywhere for you. They tried to keep mc from coming back to the house, but I would/ _

Lesley ran to her mother. "He saved my life," she said. The elder woman held out both lands to him. "How can I thank you ?" she cried.

"By forgiving me—if you will." He spoke to her, but he looked at Lesley. "We start newly from this moment," said the girl. Her eyes were wondjously soft and sweet in the chapel's dusk, jewelled by the candlelights.

"Come oway quickly," implored her mother. "Who knows yet if it is safe even here ? It has all been so sudden,

so horrible. I saw everyth__g from the peasants falling over th< cliff from above, the fishing-boat-crashed—oh, I shall dream of it always. Signare Vo__i says, even if all is.wel after this, everyone must leave the hotel as soon as we can get our things together. Do come!" She iturned towards the door again, drawing Lesley with her, Beiever followed, and at the door Lesley lookeo back. He hardly dared to believe thai he had read aright what her eyes said,