Less Than Kin.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1028, 6 April 1894, Page 7

Less Than Kin.

By Mrs Will C. Hawksley.

In Five Chapters. !

CHAPTER IL Twenty years bring changes into all : lives, and those of Mildred and Charles Eussell were not likely to be exempt ; from the universal law. The vicarage of Denleigh, which had been their home for all that time, had been the scene of both births and deaths ; and hy the time that their eldest son was 25, and Ena a pretty, gray-eyed damsel of 20, there was but one other child, Bjjou, a fragile petulant, self-willed, little mortal of 12, left to share with the other two their parents' love. For that she had not an equal claim with Dick to talk of ' father and mother,' EDa never dreamt The immediate removal of the family from the Hampshire curacy to the Yorkshire town had of course made the keeping of Jack's secret a comparatively easy matter; the more so since, from the day he received it until the preseni Sir George Daintry had deigned to take no notice of the letter which gave him information as to the existence and present position of his grandchild. So Ena had grown up exactly as her father desired, regarding herself as the eldest daughter of the house, and claiming as her right affection which she most fully returned. Never for one moment had either husband or wife regretted the adoption of the baby, who had won for herself so warm a corner in their hearts. As to Dick, before he left home, four years ago, he had believed that the world contained no one so bright and helpful and lovely as his sister Ena. ln which, of course, he was mistaken. But his was a pardonable error, and one to be rather cultivated than discouraged on the part of brothers as a race. Except for the loss of the little ones, upon whose waxen faces hot tears had bidden, and each of whom existed still as a memory in at least two hearts, poverty had been the one trouble that had fallen upon the vicarge. The small private means which had emboldened Rr Russell to accept his present incumbency had some time ago heen swallowed up in the failure of a bank Happily, Dick had then just completed his university course, and was already looking out for a tutorship which might tide over the period that must elapse before he should he of age to follow in his fathers's footsteps and take Holy Orders. And upon the very morning that brought tidings of the crash, there came also a definite offer of a post, with a salary so tempting that, under the circumstances, it could not he refused ; even although the condition attached to it—-that he must undertake not to leave his pupils until the boy of 13 should have passed his 17th birthday—must have the effect of delaying Dick's own ordination. The lad of whom he thus received the charge was extremely delicate, requiring constant change of air and scene, always away from England. Therefore their long companionship now drawing to a close, had been spent by both pupil and tutor in almost incessant travelling, which had never once brought them within sight of home. And at the present moment, when Dick's long desired return was actually approaching, there was much anticipation and counting of days in Denleigh vicarage. 'No letter this morning from him,' remarked Ena, standing, tall and slim, beside the already deserted breakfast table, and turning over the small pile of recently arrived correspondence. * I daresay that Frank Roberts has taken him off on a fresh wildgoose chase to the other end 'of the world,' grumbled Bijou, of the long lashes, and —truth to tell—rather vain air. * Dick isn't free for three weeks yet, remember, and that boy will have his pound of flesh !' ' What an unpleasant comparison,' remarked her father, who had just entered ; ' and specially in regard to Frank Roberts, who really has been as good as gold to Dick.—Milly, my dear, apropros of gold, pray, where did you put that money that I left on my study table yesterdaj morning I—And,l—And, Ena, will you get out my thin overcoat 1 Really it is too warm for the thick one, now that May is in.' ' Shall I put away the other, dad V ' No. I've hung it in ray wardrobe, and let it stay there. T may use it once or twice at night even yet.—But about the money, Mildred V ' 1 didn't see any, Charlie. I 'wish I had !' with just her old merry laugh. 'How much and what was it for? —Don't look so bothered, old fellow.' ' But really lam bothered. It was too large a sum to losp, dear. Wakelin brought ifc yesterday for the pupilteachers' salaries, and that I might get rid of the National Society's account. There was over L2O. I must have left it on my table, when I was called away to baptise Mrs Brown's child. I paid Clarke on my way home, I remember.' Mildred nodded. Clearly, she understood all about Clarke. ' When I returned, the other matter had escaped my memory completely. The money must have gone though, during my absence, or the sight of suoh

a pile would have reminded me. I never thought of it again until 1 wanted to take it down to the schools, and then it had vanished. Only I made sure that you had it.' 'Not I !— But you've dropped it inside a drawer or somewhere. I'll come and help you to hunt.' With which she slipped her arm through his, and rubbing her head caressingly against hi* shoulder, looked up into his worried countenance with a smile. If any one could chase away gloominess from that face, where of late years clouds were apt sometimes to gather too quickly, it was certainly Mildred ; just as surely as Charles was her consoler in those moments of weariness and depression which fall to the lot of high-spirited beings like herself. ' It will be in the middle drawer, at the top of everything. Now see if I am not right !' she told him cheerily. But the prophecy unfortunately proved a false one. And even Mrs Russell began to look grave when, after emptying every familiar receptacle and customary hiding-place, she had to acknowledge that if her husband hacl, in a fit of abstraction, deposited the money in some safe corner, he must have taken remarkable pains in making a selection. ' I wouldn't care so much if Wakelin hadn't had a hand in it. But he is always so particularly unpleasant to deal with.' ' Not much worse than some of the rest,' responded Mrs Russell. For the south-country-bred folk had never grown accustomed to their north-coun-try parishioners, with whom, on their side, neither of the pair were favorites. And the constant intercourse with the brusque, unrefined neighbors had neither blinded 't' passon ' to Yorkshire failings nor altogether opened Yorkshire eyes to Hampshire virtues. Hence a state of constant friction, as unsatisfactory as it was irritating. 'Found it, mother'?' came at that moment in Ena's bright voice, as she stood in the doorway. 'No % Then i lefc us call Jane. She may have moved i it' ! But Jane, a respectable, middle-aged woman of scrupulous honesty, which j had stood the test of 10 .years in her \ present situation, professed herself as ignorant as the rest of the world. * And gradually perplexity merged into j anxiety. 'I must be oft"; my chicks will be waiting,' cried Ena at last. During 18 months she had held the post of -, governess to the two young daughters j of the same Mr Wakelin whom the vicar had just characterised as ' particu- j larly unpleasant.' But, whatever the i father's faults, Ena loved the children, j and anticipated with genuine pleasure j the hours spent each day in their instruction. It was a large and important as well | as perfectly new house, that towards ! which, five minutes later, she was '■ hastening. I ' None o' your old, nasty, pokey cribs for me,' Joseph Wakelin had declared, immediately after the lucky coup in iron which had brought him his fortune. Whereupon he had set to i work to build this red brick, imposing, comfortable, vulgar edifice, which he j had then stuffed full of furniture, up- j holstered in startling colors, but afford- I ing the maximum of physical ease. [ Nowhere could sofas and couches be \ found of less artistic form, of cruder ' hue, or with more irreproachable j springs ancl cushions than at ' The j Hall,' the designation displayed in i scrolls of iron-work above every gate. J It so happened that, quite out of the ; usual order of things, Ena that morning encountered the master of all this splendor upon his own doorstep. ' Late, ain't I f he exclaimed, recognising her presence by a situ pie nod. But Ena was not so thin-skinned as Mildred. Possibly residence amongst these folk from childhood had blunted her perception of their peculiarities. ' Wasn't particular bright this morning, so I slept in. The changes in the weather don't suit me. It's like a furnace to-day, and so it was yesterday. How your father manages to walk about in that Inverness of his beats me!' Ena laughed. The vicar's hatred of the cold was a constant source of wonder to his hardier flock. ' He's got his thinner coat to-day,' she retorted. * Even he thought the 1 other too heavy. I hope you'll be all right soon.' ' Thanks. By the way, if I go to the schools, shall I be likely to find his reverence *? I rather fancy the walk there instead of going to the office,' wifch a guffaw at his own confession of idleness. ' I trust so, I'm sure. But when I started all the house was upset searching for the pupil-teachers' salary money. You know the vicar's way of mislaying things ; and money is no exception.' With which she passed on, never guessing at the suspicions already at work within her employer's brain. ' And that chap Clarke is bothering for his bill. What made Russell so bloomin' pressing to have cash instead of a cheque, as he ahvays has had afore. I've fancied at whiles as pride would have a fall. Maybe it's tumbling now,' And though he did not add ' Hope as much !' it is quite probable that his sentiments ran in that direction. His resentment that the vicar would never admit him to the confidence and intimacy of an equal— for

class-pride was certainly as great a failing upon the part of Charles Russell as was purse-pride upon that of Joseph Wakelin — had long ago influenced his mind against the man whose whole annual wealth would not have afforded him a week's income. To be able to despise the clergyman as he believprl that he was despised — such was his pet though unacknowledged "ambition. Almost he fancied that he saw his way to its fulfilment when, 24 hours later, he sat and talked over the strange occurrence of the vanished money with the vicar in his study. 'lean find the coin nowhere. Mrs Russell and I have searched the house from cellar to garret. If it had flown to the clouds it could not have disappeared more unaccountably,' exclaimed the clergyman, whose pallid face and red-rimmed eyes told of a sleepless night. ' I can't imagine what to do next in the matter.' • Then you don't deny you had it from me V • Deny ? What do you mean, sir V firing up instantly. 'Of course I had it. Your insinuation ' ' Oh, blow my insinooation,' coarsely. ' What about burglars V . Charles Russell drew himself up ; but, though his voice was cold and his face hard, he still replied to the question. In truth, he understood already the false position in which this loss had placed him, and realised that his reputation demanded an answer to all inquiries, howsoever unpleasant. ' Very unlikely, though still possible. The window is not on the ground floor. And any one entering f frorn the hall during- the day-time could scarcoly fail to be observed. Though, as I have said, it is just possible that might have been managed.' ' And servants V ' There is only Jane. All the parish is acquainted with her, and would vouch for her integrity. No ! Whoever was the thief, it was not Jane.' *- He's a fool,' the other decided, listening and watching. ' ' Has he used it 1 At least he'd better try and throw the blame somewhere. But no ! He'll save his conscience that far.' Then aloud, with a look of the utmost insolence : 'So the scamp is as usual "Mr Nobody, or the cat " — with a scoffing laugh that positively chilled the blood in his companion's veins. This man, with all his presumption, would never venture to behave with such freedom had not his vicar fallen very low in his estimation. So the clergyman believed, at any rate. But even now he was not prepared for what was to* follow.' 'Look here, Russell,' the other said, bending forward in his chair and speaking with a show of indulgent goodnature. { I understand. I'm just as cocksure as you are that Clarke's bill was settled within an hour after I left this house ! I'm out and out certain, too, that you haven't LSO to repay — well, call ifc the loan ! You make a friend of me, and I'll do my best for you. Come now. 'Taint every man would, after as much,' Nor, had tho confidence been accorded, would he have betrayed the trust. Only to be recognised and acknowledged by the vicar as a benefactor was his sole desire. He had really no wish to lower the cleric in the eyes of the world, or to see pretty Ena's father — he was quite fond of Ena, he assured himself at this pomt — publicly dishonored. For a few seconds there was silence in the room, a silence which could be felt. Then, very slowly, and with a face of oshen whiteness, Charles Russell rose to his fset. ' Sir ! Mr Wakelin !' he thundered. 'Do you dare to harbor such an opinion of me, and to tell me of it to my face % Go !' point ing to the door, ' go, and do your worst ! But never cross my threshold again. — ' Go !' as the other, in pure astonishment at the outburstl remained motionless. ' Again I command you, go, lest I forget my office, and kick you out of the door !' • Father, there's a gentleman named Daintry down-stairs in the drawingroom, who is ver}*- anxious Oh, I beg your pardon ! I thought you were alone,' were the words that interrupted this crisis, giving Mr Wakelin time to gather his wits together, and falling like cooling drops upon the flame of the clergyman's ire. But it was the manufacturer who replied to Ena's announcement. 'He will be in a second ! I'm off! And don't you suppose I'll ever bother you with another offer of help. Miss Russell, you needn't come to my house again, The missis can find some un better than a thief's daughter to teach m}*- little gals. Good-morning to you.' With which parting shot he departed, stamping down the stairs in a fury, and slamming the hall door behind him ; yet carrying away a conviction, which had been growing stronger during every moment of the interview, a conviction of Charles Russell's entire innocence. That it was a conviction which he intended neither to act upon or admit, did not in the least prevent his recognition of its presence in his mosfc unwilling mind. (To be Continued.)