SIR REGINALD.

Evening Star, Issue 9582, 31 December 1894, Page 2 (Supplement)

SIR REGINALD.

{Br Thob. E. Dowuwa,] ' *■ " (Fourth Ptw.—Copyright.) CHAPTER I. gM&£gIR REGINALD HARCOT, the raSrat owner of a large estate hi the ajjwSCl North of England, is sitting be4gJSs& ore a blazing fire in one of the large rooms of his spacious mansion. His thoughts are wandering to hia son . Reginald, who is now between twenty-five and twenty-six years of age, and in his father's estimation it is time he settled down and married. * * * * * * Sir Reginald is uot a Baronet by reason of "long lineage." He was originally in the Indian Army, and had seen plenty of active service, and on several occasions had been noted for his conspicuous bravery. He had been raised to the rank of a Colonel, and when holding that position was agreeably surprised when he received a letter from a noted London lawyer informing him that a bachelor uncle of his, who was extremely wealthy, had died, leaving him sole heir to a very large fortune, invested principally in one of the leading banks in London, and some of the principal stocks of the railway companies in England. Of course, as one would naturally suppose, the Colonel, who was by nature a Sybarito, lost no time in changing his quarters from India to London. Arrived in London, tho Colonel, after satisfying himself that his deceased uncle's fortuue was invested to the best advantage, and finding himself in the receipt of a large annual income, looked round for a suitable residence in the country. Having purchased one to suit his taste, he, with his wife and son, removed to it, where he dispensed lavish hospitality, and was noted all round for his generosity. His wife was not fitted by nature to shine in society. She was a good wife, devoted to her husband and son—home being her heaven. After being in possession of his fortune for fifteen years, he was instrumental in forming, and carrying to a successful issue, a large railway company, which was the means of opening up a large coalfield. For his services in connection with this company he received the honor of Knighthood. He was a man of a strong will, and of ambitious nature. Now that he was knighted, he was anxious, as previously mentioned, to see his son married, and for this purpose he had looked around for a suitable wife. The father's choice had fallen on an ouly daughter, Mildred Craddock by name, of an old friend, whose large estates bordered on his own. Sir Reginald And his friend had talked the matter over between them, and had mutually arranged for the joining of the families, and subsequently the estates. The young lady in question was an extremely handsome and winning girl, of twenty-one years of age, who had secretly admired the young man for a long time, and, providing she could win his love, would only be too happy to fall in with her father's wish. Reg had recently returned home from college, where he had been most successful. He differed from the majority of young men of his age, and did not gamble, get into debt, or lead a fast life ; but, on the contrary, he made up his niiud to make the most of his time while at college. His father, who knew thoroughly the temptations his son would have to endure, situated as he was with a rich father, was secretly proud of his son, in whom he saw the makings of a splendid man. Reg had been home nine months, and had inspired his father with so much confidence in him that his father's banking account was open to him, to draw when and whatever ho liked. But in this tho young man did not betray his father's confidence. He merely drew a certain allowance whicli his father had agreed to give him. Reg, being a young man of high principle and sensitive feelings, had, in the course of his wauderhigs in and about the district which surrounded his home, observed that tho population, which consisted chiefly of working people, appeared to have no future before them but hard work. He was instrumental, both by means of his father's wealth and his own social position, of establishing libraries, night-schools, etc., for their benefit. These earnest endeavors on his part to, Eromote the well being of the people made im a firm favorite with them, and, the General Election being near at hand, Reg determined, if possible, to enter Parliament, he having an ambition that way, and, if successful, to use his influence to better the condition of the working classes. Reg laid his plans before his father, and asked what he thought of them. This highly pleased Sir Reginald, who had the interests of the working people at heart. He promised to assist his son in the election by all the means in his power. CHAPTER 11. All would have went well but for the village schoolmistress, Ona Sunbury. This young lady lived with an elderly woman who was a tenant of Sir Reginald. Ona came from London, where her parents, a few years before, had both been killed in a railway accident. Previous to their death Ona, who was their only surviving child, had received a good education. When her parents were taken from her, she found that after her father's affairs were settled up there remained a sum of £7OO, which she received. Her lawyer advised her to invest the money in such a way that there would be no difficulty in getting it when it was wanted. He also told her the interest such a sum would bring in per annum would not suffice to. keep her, and advised her, as she was so well accomplished, to try and get a position, which would augment her income. Being a very sensible girl, she saw the soundness of the lawyer's advice, and through his influence procured the situation she was at present in. Ona had held the iwsition of school mistress three months. She was of medium height, with a splendidly proportioned figure. She was not a beautiful woman in the strictest sense, of the word. Her features were very regular, and gave one the impression that she was a " true woman," or, as Milton says : Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eyes. In every gesture, dignity and love. Reg, in the course of "his rambles through the village, had observed Ona, and had wondered who she was. She aroused his curosity so much that he often went down the village for the express purpose of cathing a glimse of her. In fact Reg was, unconsciously, in love with her. * * * * * A concert was being held in the village, the occasion being for the presentation of * prizes given by FSir to the children. Reg, in company with his father and mother, was present Ona, who had a splendid voice, was singing the last verse of a song, which had completely put Reg in a state of dreamy happiness, when, stepping too near one of the lights in front of the stage, Ona's dress caught fire. In a moment the light material of which the dress was composed of was in flames. Reg, who in spite of his dreamy ■ state, had never taken his eyes off Ona, dashed on to the stage, drew off his coat, wrapped it round her, and picking /up a carpet from the floor, which he also wrapped around her, succeeded in cob : pletefy smothering the flames. All was confusion; Ona had fainted. The doctor, who was present, hastily examined her, j and brought her round.- She was not 1

touch hurt, suffering mostly from .fright. 1 8$ Reginald, whose oarriage_wists ; handy, placed it ati Ona's "disposal, • and then asked. Reg to see her safely to ' her home. Beg> who was only too glfla -to avail himself of the opportunity, did so, and having received her permission, promised to call aud see her next morning. Ona went to rest that night with feelings she had never experienced before. Rej?s quick action in saving her from severe injury, if not from death, had made him quite a hero in her eyes. She was not a ! girl'given to getting' sentimental about young men, but somehow Reg had.interested her in some unaccountable manner. Her sleep that night was disturbed by dreams in which Reg figured prominently. Next morning Ona got up feeling none the worse for her previous night's experience, but she found herself looking anxiously forward to Reg's visit. Any knock at tho door caused her heart to flutter violently aud her cheeks to blush. Reg-, who, since tho previous evening, had been looking forward with beating heart to the meeting with Ona, felt some , trepidation when he drove up to see her. Reg did not stay long with Ona. She thanked him very much for his bravery at the concert, to which Reg replied : " It was nothing but what any man would do for a lady." They seemed to have known one another for years. Reg partly guessed his feelings towards Ona. The short conversation he had had with her tended to convince him that she was no ordinary woman ; but being an extremely cautious young man he resolved, now that the ice was broken between them, to study her inward character. When Reg rose to depart he asked Ona if he might call on her again, a permission which she readily'gave. Meetings between Reg and Ona became very frequent after this. They discovered in themselves an affinity for each other. Reg found himself telling Ona all about his hopes for the future, aud was always asking her opinion as to how she thought they would turn out. Ona, on her part, found herself fast becoming a willing listener, and taking the deepest interest in all that concerned Reg. Meetings extended to walks, and confidences became so strong between them that there could only be the usual ending between two young people of their ages. Ona, who was a shrewd reader of character, had made up her mind that Reg was a man to be trusted, respected, and honored by any woman. Before she knew it she had given her heart unconditionally to him. She knew she loved him, and also knew that, although her love might not be returned, she would never love another man in the same way again. Reg found himself irresistibly' drawn towards Ona. In his estimation she was the sort of woman he would like to win for his wife. What he admired about her was, in conjunction with her appearance and general bearing, she was gifted with rare womanly qualities ; and, what was more, she knew how to use them—but only as a true woman. ' CHAPTER 111. Sir Reginald, in order to bring his son and the young lady, whom he had chosen to be Reg's wife, together, told Lady Harcot to invite Mildred Craddock to cgme and stay a week, with them. He also took care to throw the young people into each other's society as much as possible. Reg took a liking to Mildred at once, but the liking was not of the same description as that which he had for Ona. During the week Mildred was at Reg's home he took her out driving, riding, etc., and showed her all the courtesy and kindness in his power, but even when enjoying a bracing ride with his fair companion, who proved to be a girl any man might well be proud of, Reg found his thoughts continually wandering to Ona. Towards the end of the week Reg, who had not previously arrauged to meet Ona, could not keep himself away from her any longer, and, not having seen her for seven days, resolved to ask Mildred's pcr•mission to be excused that evening. Mildred, with a woman's quick intuition, saw that Reg, by his-manner and actions, was in love, and, although she knew of the arrangements between her father and Sir Reginald, she could plainly see that Reg, although he admired and respected her, did not evince any warmer feelings.- On her part she could have made him a good wife, but she was not the sort of woman to give her love unasked. She resolved when she went home to tell her father that whatever arrangements Sir Reginald and he had made apparently they had both loft young Reg out of their calculations. To return to Ona. She had been looking forward every day in the week to a visit from Reg, and when day after day passed and he did not appear, Ona felt very much disappointed, and had to admit to herself that the non-appearance of the young man did not tend to raise her spirits. She had heard that Miss Craddock was staying at Reg's house, and that he was always with her, and appeared tA bo paying her great attention. Ona being so fond of Reg, naturally felt a little jealous of Miss Craddock, although she knew Reg had given her no cause to think he thought of her otherwise than as a friend. She-was taking a walk by herself, along one of the roads adjacent to the school, one evening; her thoughts were occupied with Reg. She was turning a corner of the road, and was startled out of her reverie to see the object of her thoughts approaching. She felt very much embarrassed, butbefore Reg came up to her she had recovered her usual composure. " How are you this evening, Miss Sunbury ?" said Reg. " This is quite an unexpected pleasure." " How do you make out it is a pleasure, Mr Harcot?" " Well, I have not seen you for a week, and in my estimation it is really a pleasure to see you again." " You are very kind to say so." " Now, Miss Sunbury, since we have met, and leaving out any pleasure I may feel in meeting you, will you allow me to accompany you in your walk ?" " Oh, certainly, Mr Harcot, if you wish to." Ona tried to speak in a very indifferent tone—she did not want to let Reg see she cared whether he came or not; but her attempt at dissimulation was very poor, and had Reg, who was looking at some flowers at the roadside, looked at Ona at this time ho could easily have seen that she was pleased to be in his' company, her flushed face and whole demeanor betraying her completely. "It appears to me," said Reg, " that you are not in your usual good spirits this evening, Miss Sunbury ?" "Ami not?" "31" No ; you seem to have changed since I last saw you." "How long is it since you saw me?" said Ona, indifferently. " Do you not know ?" " I do not keep an account of your visits." Ona admitted to herself this was anything but true. " You need not take me up so sharply," said Reg. i ' "I do not think lam doing so, Mr Harcot," '■"..■ "Do you like-teaching children ?" "What a question! Do you particularly wish to know ?' " Oh, I am only inquiring." " I like teaching because I have to like it; by it I have to make my living." " Do you intend to always earn your own living f ' "Certainly I do, unless some'kind person will earn it for me." I" Where do you come from, Miss Sunbury?" ' " From London, Mr Harcot."

.[. "A|#)ur people there IJ-v '-<»-•, .»! , I, "Ml have no parents: tftey , W" - " ■ : 'j i 'V ."iAny/jelations T ■ " \ i ''' "Wone that I know of." • ■ V , "Then ytih are quite alone in the • world?" " Yes j 1 have only myself to look after." i "Do you find it hard to look after j yourself, Miss Sunbury ?" i " I cannot say I do, Mr Harcot." i " You ought to get someone to do that i 'for you.* ; "Do what?" Mr Harcot. • "To look after you." ' Ona involuntarily raised her eyes to • those of her companion after his last ' remark. She immediately dropped them > again, being half frightened at the oxpres- ' sion she caught in them. .» f I ..Thoy had now approached a rustic seat, ■ and Reg asked his companion to have a '• seat, which she did. > " I hope you will not think mo rude, Miss Sunbury, but—eh—are you engaged V t Ona felt herself blush violently, and \ turned her face towards Reg, who noticed > her heightened color, and thought what a sweet and lovable face she had under these > conditions. " NO, I am not engaged, Mr Harcot." •> "Likely to be?" • " That is a question I cannot answer." 1 " You mean you will not answer, Miss ' Sitnbury." > " No, Mr Harcot, you have taken mo up ' wrongly; I mean I cannot answer your • question." ' Ona by this time had become agitated, ; and Reg took a delight in teasing her, ' making her more so. ' " Do you believe in marriage, Miss Suh- : bury?" » "Yes, I do, Mr Harcot." I " And that it is the sole aim of woman's • existence." r "Not in that sense, Mr Harcot. But > every woman looks forward to meeting y with some man she can look up to, love, > and respect." "Some women—in fact, a great many ■ of them—won't admit that." 5 " It is true all the same." I " Do you feel that way ?" 1 " I would not be a woman if I did not." i " Do you place love before worldly goods 1 and position ?" r " Yes." f " Then you would not marry for ' money ?" I "No. Do you know, Mr Harcot, the 3 majority of men misjudge us women - greatly. We place 'love' first. I am 1 ready to admit there are some women who 3 place money and its attendant pleasures • before love, out very rarely are they happy. A woman to be happily married must, in 1 the first place, have love, and if she finds 3 after marriage that the object of her 1 affection is worthy in every way of her !* love she is indeed a happy woman." 3 " If these are your sentiments, Miss 1 Sunbury, I must say I admire them." 3 " They'are the sentiments of every true t woman, Mr Harcot." " If you loved a man, and he were poor, would you marry him ?" " I would have to wait till he asked me, l and when he did that, if his income were l not sufficient, I would wait till it was so." r " What is your ideal of a husband, Miss ) Sunbury?" 3 " My ideal of a husband, Mr Harcot, is 3 a man whom I could respect, look up to,' - and trust with all my heart; a man too t proud to do a mean action, but always 3 ready to forgive an unintentional fault; . one who would help his poor suffering i fellow creatures to the best of his ability ; , and, above all, a man with a pure heart." "Yourideal is pretty high, Miss Sunf bury. Have you seen him, or approach- , ing him ?" b " I have met a man, Mr Harcot, whom I 5 respect and admire very much." " Are you engaged to him 1" > " No ! I told you before I am not cn- , gaged." • [■ " I beg your pardon," said Rog. [• " I heard Miss Craddock was staying at - your place, Mr Harcot. Is she" away yet?' " No ! But she goes to-morrow." 1 " To-morrow ! So soon as that ?" 3 " So soon ! What do you mean ?" r "To bo plain, Mr Harcot, if you don't r mind mo saying it, I hoard that Miss 1 Craddock was to be—to be—l would i' rather not say—never mind." s " Miss Craddock to be—what did you b say?" " Oh, it is nothing." 3 " But it is something. Tell me what ■ you mean ?" 3 Reg uttered these last words in a stern \ tone, and Ona felt a little frightened. ■ " I heard Miss Craddock is to bo your - < future wife." i "This is the first time I have heard r this," said Reg coolly, "and, besides, t although I like Miss Craddock very much, t she is not tho lady I intend to make my s wife." p " From what I have heard, Miss Cradi dock is a good and true woman," said Ona. I " She has good looks, and will be endowed 1 with much wealth. Any man may well be i proud to win her for his wife." 3 " What you say is true, Miss Sunbury, 3 but, as I told you before, I do not love : her. I do not rare if the woman I love i has no wealth. I will marry her—that is, if she will have me—because'l love her." ; " Have you an ideal too, Mr Harcot ?" , " I do not know whether I have an I 'ideal' exactly, Miss Sunbury. In my f estimation, ideals exist in the imagination ■ only, but the woman who approaches i nearest to my ideal is not far away." Ona felt her heart sinking at these i words ; she imagined Reg had a sweetheart somewhere near his own home. During 5 their conversation she at first had hopes l that Reg was fond of her, but latterly, from the calm way he was speaking to her, , she inferred he sought her company from friendship, pure and simple. , " Then I suppose I will soon be hearing i of your engagement." " I hope so. You will be the first to hear about it, if the lady returns my affec- ) tion." ' " I sincerely hope she will." > " A.t any rate, I intend to ask her, and that now." t Ona felt her heart beating rapidly, and lifting her eyes for a moment to those of [ Reg caught an expression in his which ; seemed to thrill her through and through. r She felt her waist clasped firmly, and ; heard Reg's voice saying : " Ona, you are ; my ideal ; I love you ! " and before she s was aware of it he had imprinted a burns'" ing kiss on her lips." s " Tell me, Ona, do you love me ?" " Yes, Reg, I do love you with all my > heart. You have made me so happy." i " You cannot feel happier than I do, Ona." "Oh, Reg! Are you sure you love i me ? Remember, there is a great difference in our social positions. 1 am a poor ' girl—a schoolmistress ; you are rich and powerfid, and you might, if you please, marry a woman in a much higher rank of ' life than I am in." "Ona, I love you; no matter what your ; social position may be, I intend, now that you love me, to make you my wife. You j are my equal, if not mysuperior, in everything but wealth, and always remember, j Ona, it is not the most worthy in the world who have riches; On the contrary, ] - those who put their wealth to the basest i uses generally have the most." < " Reg, you will never need to be ] ashamed of me. I will make you a good ] wife, and it will be the aim of my life to II cherish and keep your love." ] Reg gave her the lover's usual answer—. ! a kiss. They sat together for more than aii hour. The time went all too quickly, ( as it always does to those similarly . situated as they were. On the road home 1 Reg and Ona talked a lot about the/future ; < \

t.,jbjmßboth very knew thai gyre re,'sbey must not be rry?ts> announce their Miip. ■' * - *.'-«> After bidding Ona good night, and taking several kissSs from her, Reg wended his way home. (To be cffiitinued.)