MY LADY'S GARDEN

North Otago Times, 17 December 1904, Page 2 (Supplement)

MY LADY'S GARDEN

(By John K. Prothero.) Tho caslilo was in-shadow; tho tall elms, giants of ni century old, flung their branches over tho gable ends liko n veil. or, Olive thought somotiincs with ut littleshudder, liko a shroud. It was such an old, old place; its lichen-covered walls, its stones hoary with tho wear and tear of years, its «hm\y battlements, its garden full of winding - walks, shady groves, and quaintly-, fashioned trees. Par all tho world, it was like a garden in a fairy tale, where knights- were , changed into stones and lovoly ladies into | running-brooks. , ~ , , ! And, if tho garden was like fairyland, so might O'livo lin.vo stood for tho beniu- j liful princess. Widc-onon. innocent grey eyes, ooft-tinted 1 . cheeks, and hair that,! iii colour and texture, rivalled tho fa-: mo'is tresses of (he. "Fair One. with the Golden Locks"; and, to complete the picture, n guardian dragon ma not wanted, who could bo nrcro faithful, more fiurlv. more ill-favoured-as to looks, lit nil events—than Larry, the major-domo of flic establishment and Olive's most demH slave. "It is past sun-down, miss; you'd better bo goinp in." With a siish, tho girl roso and passed slowly up the neglected paths to tho old house. "Why, Larry." slvo cried, ?'tlio big door's open. What has happened?" "Tho master's got oompany," returned the man. "Who, Larry?" with a charming gesture of curiosity. "Well, as you want to know, Miss Olivo, I'll toll you-only don't blame me :'f you're put about. It's the brother of Miss Kitty's old sweetheart—Lord Dinover." "What!" Trio gray eves flushed dangerously, and her sninil hands clenched in a manner that boded ill for his lordship, shf-uld he cross her path. "Larry!" hor voice was appealing now "yon don't moan it? You can't, moan that my grandfather has invited that despicable man here? The man who so insulted my de.ar Kitty, iny own darling sister, the man who wrecked the happiness of the sweetest, lowliest girl in all tho world?" ''l do mean it, Miss Olive, and, what is more, tho master, had the big door open in his honour. 'Larry,' he said, Mho D'Arcys always throw open the big door lo do honour to a guest, mid I wish siweinl honour to bo paid to his lord-

s!;in.'" "But the nmn, Lurry, he must be even meaner than I thought him, if that were possible, to como here, the home of the girl whose happiness he wrecked." "They do say, Miss Olivo. that there was more in the business than wo know of. Kiss Kitty—" ''That will do," interrupted the young mistress haughtily. "We will not discuss Miss Kitty, if you please, Larry." As Ihe old servant moved away:' "I sha'n't come down to dinner to-night; nek Molly to send somo tea up to my iMin." "All the same my hob," muttered he with n sigh, "I'm thinking you'll have to come if (he master solids for you." And, sure enough. Miss Olive had to come. "Tell _ her," roared her grandfather, "that, if sho isn't down within five minutes, I'll come after her," The guest of the evening—n tall, aris-tocratic-looking man of about thirty-fivo -looked slightly perturbed at his host's display of temper, but controlled himself by reflecting thnt one couldn't expect much from, a madman. "I expect the. girl will be ns bad," he reflected, and wished devoutly that lie hod not accepted D'Arcy's invitation. Tho next moment his lordship was striving to recover from what, as he afterwards confessed, was the biggest facer he had ever received in his life. Tho door had been flunpt open, ami a tall figure, dressed in white satin and shimmering laeo. had swept down the room to a seat at the end of the table. "The carriage of an Empress, tlw beauty of an angel, and the temper of the old gentleman himself," thought Dinover, as, in answer to his bow, she turned her head, merely vouchsafing .• insolent gJance from tlio comer of her wonderful grey eyes. "What an exquisite neck," he thought, admiring the girl more and more; "and what taste in her dress! Her gown might have come from Paris." As a matter of fact, it did come from Paris. Mad D'Arcy's granddaughters had nothing to complain of so far as money went. Nothing they asked for in tho matter of luxuries was ever denied. Oniy-nnd this had been the rock on which Kittty, tho elder of tho two, had split—they must render him absolute mid unquestioning obedience. It had been in defiance of the 'old man'f. A'will that tho beautiful, highBpiriti'ii Irish girl had become engaged to a subaltern in a marching regiment; for. the younger son of a noble, family, tho Hon; Guy Randal had little to ' commend him but his handsomo face and charming manners. They had mot while Kitty was on a visit to Dublin, and hod fallen deeply in love at first styht/ •' Old D'Arcy promptly washed his [hands of her, and forbade her Die house, threatened to turn Olive out of doors should she ever meet or hold c<"uiinuuication with her sister. ~., ] Only by stealth did thoj correspond, iand nt last Olive learnt in a heart.brokon letter from her darling Kitty that !Ker engagement was broken off through |the interference of her lover's brother, ILoTd Dmovcr, because sho (Kitty) hurt |gone upon the stage to earn her living. j_ And now her darling sister was loading a strango life, bearing a strango jname, of this man with whom Bho was obliged to sit at meat. : Small wonder thnt the indignant tears ; filled her eyes, and that, try how sho .would a little crmvulsivo sob escaped 'Lor as slio passed through the door, j ."Poor little girl!" thought the cause of jlicr grief. "I suppose tho old man terrifies her. Upon my word, it's an awful 'shame!" '. "I hnto him!" said the object of his jcomniiserntion. "I hate him!'' with a |6tamp. "How dare h 0 look as though Jhe pities me?" • Olivo was not visible any more that loyening, much, it must be confessed, to jhis lordship's disappointment. Ho was ianxiouß to improve his acquaintance, ;and readily accepted old D'Arcv's invitation to ride over some afternoon and ;look round the place. ! Tho old man wan out when he arrived, •and Olivo was called upon to receive him ;in her grandfather's stead. She was in !her sitting-room-a qnaint, oak-pannelled jMinber, fragrant with roses, and gav with old chma. in curiously caned ebony cabinets Sho had been' singing, anil ,Wo last notes of her song, a pathetic flush mciody, died away as he entered. Wont stop!" he pleaded. "I s0 lovo limine, owl musio such) as yours one. hears jJJJj- p «y sing that again. Won't j K™ in her mind to tellhiin that ihb iZL w? g '? , fl t cmk bl,t stopped the gibo before it passed her lips, jaind she contented horself with a> cold reI "Your voice reminds mo of a singer |I ouco heard in London, Miss Olive," ho said presently. "It was just SU ch' a "! other-patliotic soul-searching, m \ m \. rousing, bho also was Irish." j Wag it possible that ho could have tho jCffronteiT to speak of Kitty before her ifacof She turned indignantly nwav j Ireland is vastly obliged to you, Lord ;Dinovor,. she said. j Ho looked mizzled, "I seem to have tho iwsfortuuo to displease you, whatever I say," ho said. "Snpposo you (choose the topic for a> change." ! "It is a. funny thing," ho said 1 mus'ing|ly, but, not only your voice, but vou'r :laoe, your expression, seem somehow* fapiliair to me. You remind me of some;one, but who it is I cannot think. Havo iy<ra a sister, Miss D'Arcv?" Olivo roso, her face white with passion, Iher eyes ablazo with scorn. "How dare jyouf sho said. "How dare you speak to :. .jnc about.ijiy sister?" i ,/ moment aiid he was alone, KeeUng that either hlo or she must bo

tlio poor girl's gliosthaimteuf ho thought j "holievcs that I murdered 'tor sister! By-the-bye, I did hear something about the suddwi disappearance of Miss D'Arcv tho cld.er. I wonder what it menus i" i "Miss Olive's compliments, and would Ihjs lordship plenso fflcuso licr, as she is [feeling rather unwoll." ! Lorry spoko gruffly, and looted, if iliossiWe. more &riin than ever. ' "Here." thought Dinovor, "is a chance [of explanation. Old servants always [■know tho family secrets. I'll see if I can 'unlock tho old man's lips,"

"liy-the-byo." said his lordship, extending half ai sovereign, which Larry adroitly slipped into his pocket, without, however, relaxing n muscle of his countenance, "is Miss Olivo the only Miss B'Arcy? I hcar,d. thoro was an elder sister."

Tho old man's faco became positively vicious. "So there is," ho snarled. , "Whore is she? I mean, docs she live ,nt tho castln?"

"A nico thing for you to be asking about her,' 1 Larry said. "She's not where sho would bo but for you, you blackhearted villain!" 1 In his excitement, Lnrry'g tones became more and moi'o menacing, culminaling ;in a series of growls tho reverse of rc- ' assuring.

Throwing tho hnlf-sovorcigu Dinovcr had just presented lo him on the floor Larry departed, having succeeded in mystifying and angering his lordship almost beyond endurance.

"Thoy'ro nil mad!" ho shouted, besido himself with rage. Gradually, however, the humorous side of tho situation suggested itself, and, after a struggle between temper and i amusement, tho latter triumphed, and lie broke into peals of laughter. If a love of merriment betokens a sound heart and a coiiscienco at rest, Lord Dinovcr could certainly not be considered a villain. Long and loud worts his peals of laughter, till Olive, upstairs in her room, was almost compelled to ioin in.

"Ho does it to annoy mo," sho decided with n toss of her shapely head, and forthwith covered up hor pretty care that slio might not lioar liim. Sho was not troubled by another visit from Lord Dinover, and was beginning to regret licr conduct on tho previous occasicn, when something happened which changud tho whole course of her life. Lord Pincver, tlio man whom she firmly believed was responsible for separating liev sister from liei lover, the man \vhom, as she constantly told herself with somewhat unnecessary vehemence, she hated above all others, was brought to D'Arcy Castle fearfully injured iroin a fall in a steeplechase.

"Pull yourself together, girl!'" said her grandfather roughly, and come and help. "No, no," to .tlro surgeon, who suggested that a trained nurse had better be sent for, 'Tl| hnvo no such piece of biujgago in my house. Molly and Olive must manage together. What's a woman good for, jf not to mirso a man who'\'s Ws ill?' '

And, thus adjured, Olive shook off her hesitation, and enrolled herself ns chief attendant under Molly, the housekeeper, , Tho patient proved quieter with Olivo than anyone; his distressful moans wore stilled when she held his hand, and a faint look of consciousness came into his eyes, bright and strained with fovcr, One night-it was her turn to sit up—sho had fallen into a fitful dose over tho firej when sho was awakened by a cry florn. Dinovel'.

"Agnes!" ho called. "Agnes, come to mo, darling! For God's sake, come!" In vain she tried to soothe him; in vain sho hold his hand and spoke in her most caressing voice. "Kiss mo, Agnes!" ho pleaded. "Why won't you kiss mo?"

So wild woi'o his looks that the girl grew alarmed. Sho dare not let him over-exert himself; he was dangerously ill, perhaps dying. It would ho cruei, indeed wicked, to rofuse him. Besides, it was not as if he how her -he took her for another woman, his sweetheart, perhaps his sister.

It was curious that she decided in preference of the latter suppositioncurious, for, after all, Lord Dinover was nothing audi nobody to, her. Nevertheless, it was 'with a fast-beat-ing heart that sho bent over him and laid her warm, red lips on his.

"My darling!" he murmured. "My darling!" Then, with a liltlo sigh, he turned over and fell asleep. .And Olivo sat through the night with burning cheeks and a souse of unuttcr- «!■■!(> slianie.

Sho had kissed him—tho man whom, above all others, she loathed! After that eventful evening, Lord Dinover mended apacci, Ho daily grew stronger and more liko himself; and one afternoon, when the castle was hooded with sunshine, and the garden gay with Iknvers, ho was brought doiviisluirs.

Olive's sitting-room happoned to be tho nearest, and it was there that ho was accordingly deposited. His nurse Hushed somewhat as she remembered what had passed the last lime they had been there together, and Dinover himself remciuhori.d Ihe incident, as was testified by a faint suspicion of a sniilo under his long moustache.

"I wish I knew what I had said : to /fiend yon that; day, Olive," he said softly, taking hor hind in his. "You •'oii't know what mi awful fury you were in. I was quite terrified, and, to make 'iMfterii worse, I appealed to Larry foT "nliglitpiimcnt.' only to bring down another ('term of obliqity on my. devoted head." V In spite of herself, Olive was compelled to smile at Hip thought of his linvms nskod no less & personage than tho re•HtbtaWo Larry, who, ns she well knew, would have been torn 1 piecemeal rather than give his enemy any information. "I would rather not speak of it," slio wid quietly. "By-nnd-bye, when you sre stronger, perhaps."

"l'l"asc, don't nut mo off!" ho said tenderly. "You don't know how it distresses me to see the look of distrust, almost suspicion, that comes into your Ijyes when you are watchingnie. I feel =uro you have something against mo and believe I havo done some injury to you or yours. Why don't you tell me, Olive?" But till she shook hoi' head. How could sho accuse him, still weak and ill? Besides, afterwards they could never more be friends—novor, never! It would be impossible to allow hinv to oifor his friendship, oven if sho should forgive him.

j "Quite impossiblo!" she repeated; and then, for no apparent reason, she fell I to weeping. At last, however, the explanation could no longer b« put off. Dinovor bad so far recovered that he had announced his intention of inflicting himself no longer )n tho inmates of D'Arcy Castle, and had arranged to start for Dublin the following day.

All tlio morning Olive had contrived' to keel) out nf his way; during tho afternoon she had kept to hor room with a bad headache, nnd had meditated escaping directly after dinner.

Her plnn of notion, however, was frustrated. Lord Dinover followed her alnvost immediately to the drawing-room, ind with a note of command in his ijoica asked if sho too bout on declining to ipenk to him..

Of course, if I am distasteful to you," iic commenced, "I will withdraw at Vnco.'-

."Distasteful! How could vou bo so ridiculous? I am tired 1 , that is all, prob*Mv a little cross." "Well, but for the last evoning-it is my last evening, you must remomborSio» U tl7 l ° stover your j, "As you will," shd sfl id: with a sigh, ■lira aro too many for me. Lord Dinhrfon» ** 11S kka a walk in tho

i i?' l i' l]lcna , t las > found himsolf beido her, under the stars, among the onnds rad scenfe 0 f B sumnei night Ms wy. find such poor, such! misßrabb »or>Bb in which to tel it K" lis toco ssnk to a passionate whispeV, lou know Move you? %\i m «g

' It had cnmc at Inst, (lie question'." site bad longed for and yet dreaded. What a Jr. lo is hers that she darn not, cannot, answer Iruthfully, that she- oarcn for him beyond all clco! "Olive!" ha said softly. "Once. i\((nin tlisre is that shade upon your face. IVH mo, my darling, what in it llml comet) between us?" Slio lurued towards him in |lio moonliiilit, fair awl lovoly as a ilrrain. "My sister!" she answered, and then, broke into sobs, Somehow slio stammered out; her tale, and waited with a curious uumbucsH ut( her heart for his reply. "And you believed! his of me, Olive, bclicvod mo capablo uf such unuilernjdy caddish conduct?" "f Her sister had (old her no—toy sister! "your lister, dear," he answered, /'nover knew tho trutli. It's haril lo Inwak- i]l of tho dead, but my youmror brother, Guy, diveiveil lier slianwfiilly. Ho was alrwd.y marrud, and 1 only arrived in time to save your sister from a fate too sad lo contemplate. 1 siipposo my brother (old her llm tale she sent to you—that I objected (o the slauo?" "How could I, dour? I never Itnew licv. save as Miss Lea. And yet I was haunted by a vague lesmnbhiiien when I met you. And now. Olive. I hat. all ia oxplainod, what is yimr answer? Do you oaro for nie-iv little?" "No!" she answered. "Nn-moio than words can over loll—l lnvo you!"