Less Than Kin.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1027, 30 March 1894, Page 7

Less Than Kin.

By Mrs Will C. Hawksley.

» .. ——. In Five Chapters,

CHAPTER T. It was a pretty cottage that at which the dingy cab, engaged at Havant street, drew up that wet June, evening. Pretty, notwithstanding the weather which caused the roses, climbing up the front and looking in at the windows, to nod their wet, bedraggled heads, and which weighted with damp the vine leaves overshadowing the porch. "Yet, in spite of -this beauty, that it would bean empty building in a few hours was evident, for the curtainless casement looked bareand wretched, bits of straw displayed their ungainly length against the dark mould of the flower beds and upon the yellow gravel of the sodden path ; whilst over every thing was written, as plainly to be read as the two short words on the board by the gate — To Let. 'I'm glad we had the covered vans, though they are much more expensive,' remarked Mildred Russell to her husband as she flattened her nose — a well shaped nose enough under more favorable Vnrcum stances — against the panes and stared out into the twilight. ' Every atom of furniture would have been ruined otherwise.' 1 My dearest Milly, all your arrangements are wis? !' declared the clergyman behind her. c Fancy landing in Denleigh with never a dry chair to offer an expectant parishioner. Avaunt the notion.' ' You're a goosp. You will have to improve t»ow thnt you're a vicar, really, Charlie. Oh, you must ! And treat me with the dignity becoming my position, too. Now, just promise to try, will you 7 ' Promise 1 I'll promise anything !' At which bis wife laughed understanding the reply of old. * There's a knock at the street door now, and a fine opportunity to bpgin my career of respect. — No, you don't,' as she showed signs of herself answering the summons. Permit me madam.' With another peal of the merriest laughter, Mrs Russell sank upon the' chair he was offering. * How nice ! And what a change,' she remarked looking saucily up into his face. * But really, if you are going to act Butler ' ' He was already in the hall, carefully treading between the packages that encumbered the house entrance. In anothor instant his wife heard the sound of the turning handle, and of his voice offering an astonished greeting. IMy dear Jack ! What on earth brings you here 1 And to-night. Come in out of the wet — do. Give me your goods.' Mildred was beside him by this time — having heard the first three syllables she had waited in state no longer. ' Oh, Mr Daintry, how delightful of you ! We were just wanting somebody to cheer us up — weren't we, Charlie V with her pretty smile. ' Take care, you clumsy creature. You'll drop — Why its a baby !' For a little startled cry suddenly proceeded from the rolled up bundle, which Charlie, believing it to contain nothing but shawls and rugs, had unceremoniously tucked under his arm, aud now, in his astonishment, must inevitably have dropped, had not Milly's hands closed around it. Without a thought of anything but the child, who was beginning to scream loudly, the lady turned abruptly and led the way into the sitting room. At least there was a chair there — if only the oldest of kitchen properties — upon which to deposit herself and investigate her burden. Which she immediately proceeded to do, ultimately bringing to light a tiny creature, with the reddest of red faces and the very smallest of clenched fists, with which latter it beat wildly in the air, yelling violently the whole time. Mildred caught it closely to her breast and looked up with a world of enquiry in her gaze, at her guest, who by this time had entered, followed by the wondering eleric 4 That's the way she has been "going on all day,' Jack Daintry exclaimed, despairingly. — ' Oh, Mrs Russell, I can't bear it — I can't bear it ! Quiet her if you ran — do. My poor wee girl.' And he stooped to kiss the smooth head which was jogging itself up and down furiously upon Mildred's shoulder. When he raised himself, she saw that great drops, not attributable to the rain, were standing in his eyes. 'The child is hungry, I believe. When was she fed last?' going straight — as was her won't to he practical sido of the matter. 'Thia morning. Before we started from London. At least — I Oh, how- can I make you understand?' With a final exclamation he suddenly sank upon his knees by the rickety table, and bowing his head upon tbe bard wood burst into sobs. Mildred and her husband exchanged a rapid glance. * Here, Charlie, take her for a moment, I'll find what she wants.' cried ililly, though a great lump had risen in her throat, and she felt more inclined to join ber tears to Jack's than to do anything more useful. That, however did not hinder her quick movements,'which "in five minutes resulted in the production of a baby's feeding.

—_————__—_•___—____—_____—_——__—_————— ■— bottle, filled with warm milk and water upon which the "half-famished infant at once set to work, giving vpnt the whih to self-satisfied gurgles of contentmeat. * Wasn't it lucky I had kept out our Dick's bottle to give to Mrs Jones for ( Mary V Mildred remarked, as she held one soft hand in her own and watched the stormy face subside into peaceful sleepiness. ' But, Charlie, I expect Mr Daintry is hungry, too. Do go and fetch the cold meat. It's on the top shelf of the cupboard, and so is the solitary loaf we possess. As to knives and forks you will have to rummage for them. Such are the exigencies of a move,' turning to the visitor, who had by this time dried his eyes, with a sort of pathetic movement that touched the spectators more than any words would, have dene. . ' He's in awful trouble, whatever it may be,' was the thought in Mrs Russell's mind. The supper arrived by and by*'; and although at the first sight of food Jack shrank with a half-shudder, the refreshment did him good when he began to eat. Gradually the nervous twiehing at the corners of the mouth ceased and the miserable heaving of the chest . grew less noticable. When at length he pushed his plate away and turned towards the fire, he certainly seemed revived. ' You are worn out, old fellow,' exclaimed Charlie, with ever ready sympathy. 4 Nearly' — pressing his fingers to his forehead. c But how good you have been,' stretching out his hand — a very weak, womanish hand it looked — and laying it upon Charlie's far more healthy member. 'You were a always bettpr than anyone else.' ' Oh, always,' — with a laugh that for once was not the reflex of his feelings. ' And, now, who is this young person ? { pointing to the child upon his wife's knee. IMy own daughter — with an air half sorrowful, half proud. ' Ah, Charlie you did not know 1 was married . ' 'No indeed. How should I ? when you have not written for ' 'Two years,' finished Mildred, as he paused. ' I remember, if you don't ! You see, I consider my husband's friends are my friends, too, Mr Daintry-' • . ' I know,' answering her smile with another, sadder than tears. 'But let me tell you my story. It won't be a leng one, for I'm too fagged myseif to weary you.' 'No fear of that,' from Charlie. But the other did not heed the interruption. ' I married — her a year ago. She was my landlady's daughter,' he began, in short, jerky sentences. ' Whilst I was studying in London I had rooms in her mother's house, and so made her acquaintance. Afterwards, Mrs Dawson died, and she was left quite alone. So my 21st birthday was also our wedding-day. She was the sweetest, daintiest creature. And she died just a fortnight ago, when this little one was born — Mrs Russell, she was starved to death !' .He drew a deep breath, as of a creature in physical agony. Then, as no one spoke — for what was there to say in reply to such an awful statement as that? — he went on again. 'We were married without my father's knowledge. But it came to his ears, and he stopped my allowance then and there. That was within a month of the wedding. I went and pleaded with him. He listened and laughed ; and 1 flung out of the house in anger. But worse times came. We pawned — her — wedding ring to get enough money for our railway fares and went again — together ! But he would not. so much as see us. We never redeemed that ring.' > Once more he stopped. Mildred's I tears were falling fast upon the white I dress of the motherless baby, and Charlie was shading his eyes with his hand. But now, while he recurred in memory to the deepest depths of his mercy, Jack's .own eyes, which overflowed so freely half an hour ago, were dry. ' When she was dying I went again to Rush ton, spending my last penny. I had belter have saved it to buy food for — her,' with the pause he invariably made before each reference to his dead wife. ' I did see Sir George then. I told him that she was perishing from actual want. And he answered that it was what he wished. To get rid of her was the best thing he could do for me. After that, can . I give him my little Ena?' There was no determination in his tone, only the sad depression that had characterised his manner ever since he entered, and that told of the crushing torture of mind and body through which he must have passed. Charles Russell, remembering him as he used to be, weak but high-spirited, passionate but ' affectionate, could scarcely believe this to be his father's old pupil and favorite, who at one time had been to himself more than most younger brothers are. But it was not he who first replied to the pathetic appeal. 'Give him this baby] Ena, too! What a pretty name !' « It was her mother's. Her people had been yedraen-farniers, and could trace their pedigree back to Saxon times. Longer than I can follow my

own,' from Jack, with a melancholy smile. 'Really 1 ? But of course Sir. George, cannot have her. Why,'- vgrvy hotly, 'he might teach her to despise- her own mother,' which would be dreadful/! You'll keep her yourself, Mr Daintry. [ can tell you a lot about babies, be cause there's our small Dick, you remember. Oh, she'll be such a com- | pan ion ' But he interrupted her. 'I can't bear my life here,' he said. ' I've no resources either, because I'd rather die, and so follow— her, than go. on my own I'ehalf, to my father, after ' Mildred nodded a full comprehension of the unuttered worck 'He has my oldest brother and his boys to console him. Dube will never transgress in the way I did' — with a slight curl on his lips. 'As to work, there's none to be had in England j or if there is, I can't find it. But an old friend, whom I knocked against yesterday TTou remember Dolby, Russell V 'Oh yes.' { Well, he offered a ticket for the States. He's been in low-water too, and had actually booked his passage out, when he came in for a legacy. And as he had some notion, I suppose, that I was hard up, he gave me the chance of this windfall. The ship starts to-morrow.' There was a silence when he paused. Of course the husband and wife guessed, more or less, of the request which was to be made, and were already meditating upon the matter. They were not rich by any means, in spite of the living to which the clergyman had just been appointed, the revenues of which were, indeed, barely two hundred a year." And they had themselves a five-year old toddler for whom to provide. Yet all Mildred's womanly heart had gone out to the infant whose little fingers were in her own warm, grasp, and whose deep breathing, still broken by an occasional sob, alone disturbed the stillness ; whilst Mr Russell was endeavoring to j find an excuse for his own desire to have another prattler about the house in the consideration of the benefit that Dick might derive from such society, By the time thatJaek found courage to give voice to his wishes, there was small danger that he would bo met with a refusal. 4 Mrs Russell, will you take her and bring her up as your own ? Don't let any one know that she fins no mother. In you she'll find one, poor little soul. And if she never hears the truth, she cannot feel desolate.' Mildred had believed herself prepai'ed for anything, but she opened her eyes at that." ' But you'll be coming back and wanting her by and-by,' she urged. ' Then T am sure that you won't dispute my claim," with another of those dreadfully mirthless smiles. ' But I don't believe that I shall ever ask you to give her up. It is possible. But I have a presentiment ' ' Bosh !' from Charles. ' You always were as superstitious as you were high, and that's saying a good deal.' ' Well, presentiments sometimes come true, at, any rate. s And if mine should, will you keep the child f The eyes of husband and wife met, making inquiry each^ of the other, as usual. True, that these two had been married for six long years of sunshine and shadow, but they were still lovers as fond — nay, much fonder — than when they plighted their troth. And they had not lost the lover's faculty of thought-reading. ' Th^re must positively be one condition, then": her grandfather must be acquainted with the child's whereabouts. You can draw up a will, leaving her guardianship to me, in case of your own death. But, in fairness to everybody, Sir George Daintry must be told.' . And so it was settled. Using such legal knowledge as his never arduous studies had acquired for him, John Daintry bequeathed his one treasure to his friend, and wrote a brief note to his father before he quitted the house. Then, silently grasping Mildred's hand, and kissing the brow of the slumbering Ena, he took his voiceless farewell — for ever, in this world ; for the ship that sailed with him on board arrived at New York with one short in the complement of her passengers During a gale, encountered in the Atlantic, a furious' gust of wind had torn a heavy rope from its fastenings and swept it across the deck, from which every landsman but one had long since disappeared. Like a serpent the long line coiled itself round the solitary idler, carrying him along in its flight ; and before help could reach him, it was too late. The great billows had closed above Jack Daintry's head, hiding him and his broken heart in their graj depths until the day of resurrection shall call him forth. And little Ena was an orphan. (To be Continued.)