BROWNIE'S TRIUMPH

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6003, 12 February 1881, Page 3

BROWNIE'S TRIUMPH

BY MTwS. GEORGE SHELDON". Author of "The Forsaken Bride, "Sybil's

Influence," &c. CHAPTER XXXIX. THE C'YXO.SCRE OK ALL EYES. Lord Du>"forth. without acquainting his wife of the change in his feelings, called the next day, as early as the rules of etiquette would allow, at the Langham, and desired to be j shown to Mr. Dredmond *s apartments. _ I He was informed, much to his disappointment, that Mr. Dredmond and his wife had , left town for a few days. Like all truly noble natures, when he found he was in the wrong he was willing to acknowledge it, and anxious to atone as far as lay in his power; but nothing remained now but to wait with patience until the return of the young couple. Adrian and his wife had decided. upon talking the matter over, to wait until the return of the Coolidges from Paris, before making their trip to V* est Mailing ; meantime they would run down to inchcster to pay poor Lady Douglas a visit, and take a look at Winamp Towers. At lier earnest request they-spent several days with Sir Edgar's 'widow, who immedii ateiy became very much attached to Brownie, i while she in turn was pleased with her cousin, and insisted that she should continue to make 1 Winship Towers her home just as long as she desired.

They found the estate in fine condition, and a truly noble inheritance.

Upon their return to London they found numerous cards and invitations from families in high life awaiting them, requesting the pleasure of Mr. Dredmond and lady's presence &c., &c. One for that evening callcd them to Manchester House, the residence of the Marquis of Hertford. "The* world is really waking up to the fact that you are actually married, Adrian/' Brownie said, mischievously, as she turned over the dainty missives but her cheeks were glowing with indignation. The report, without doubt, had spread that Mr. Dredmond's wife was Sir Edgar Douglas' heiress, and she hated this element of caste, which weighed a person according to his or

her position in. the... world,, rather than, for their intrinsic worth-

"Yes," her husband replied, laughing, "and I -wish to show them that I have chosen a wife worth marrying. _ I want you to look especially elegant to-night. Do yon need anything to embellish your toilet?" Brownie laughed merrily at this ipiestion, and taking him by the arm, led him to her dressing-room, where, throwing open the door of one of the enormous wardrobes, she commanded liim to look and choose for himself what he would have her wear. Dresses of silk, and satin, and lace ; dresses for morning wear, for reception, for dinner, carriage and evening, in every conceivable hue, variety, and style greeted his eyes. He smiled as she asked : " When and where shall I ever have an opportunity to display all these ? And you ask me if I need more ; don't add to my burdens. please," she concluded, with mock gravity. 44 It does seem rather unnecessary, I admit," he replied, running his critical eye over the elegant collection ; llien he added, "I thinkl~would like to see you wear this to-night," anil he designated a delicate peachcoloured silk of exceeding richness, trimmed with flounces o£ elegant lace, headed by graceful wreaths of fuchsias and lilies of the vallev. It was a marvel of taste and art, and very lovely did the young bride look upon emerging from the skilful hands of Milly. Truly the girl had rare taste and deft finders. She had woven Brownie's hair into a coronet, to make her slight form look taller and more regal. Her dress fitted her as if she had been moulded into it, while the skirt swept out behind her in a long, graceful train, and just cleared the tioor in front sufficient to reveal the tiny white kid boots with their embroideries of pale pink coral. The corsage was low in the neck, and finished around the shoulders with a delicate viue of the fuchsias and lilies to match the garnishings of the skirt. She wore the pearls which Lady Dunforth had Liven her—the lovely necklace, bracelets, the ear-pendants, and the delicate spray tor the hair. Surelv no fpieen could have looked more royally elegant than did this delicate, dainty young wife. "My darling!" exclaimed Adrian, as she swept into the drawing-room, " how beautiful you are, aud how proud I am of you !" and held out his arms as if about to clasp her to him. But, drawing suddenly back, he added, "But no; I will not crush a single bud, nor disarrange one of those perfect folds." " Don't be foolish, dear," Brownie replied nestling close to him. and clasping her own i arms around his neck ; " the dress is nothing tomeexcept that it pleases you, and makes me look more lovable in your eyes ; besides, I do not wish to look too new." Adrian's marriage—or rather the news of it—had spread like wild-fire among the elite of London, and many were the comments ami stviers poured upon the unknown American behind her back for having been so successful in " taking him in." Comparatively little was really known of her, or their marriage, excepting that :t had been very sudden and quiet, and without the sanctioning presence of Lord and Lady Duni forth. Contrary to Brownie's surmise, the report of her sudden accession to wealth and position had not ye- become very generally known, and Mrs. Grundy was exceedingly curious to behold this utra avli which had created such an unexpected commotion in polite circles. When at length "Mr. Dredmond and Ladv" were announced at Manchester House there was a sudden hush, a stretching of necks —yes, even in that noble c r owd, for human nature is the same the world over—and all eyes were turned toward the door ns they entered. Brownieknewthatshewas the cynosure of all eyes, and although her heart boat rather more quickly than usual, not a muscle of her pure patrician face quivered as they threaded their way through the crowd. A delicate bloom was upon her cheek, her lips.glowed like scarlet berries, and her eyes gleamed with brillumcv that made them vondrously beautiful. It was amomcnt of triumph to her idolizing husband, when she was presented to the Marquis and Marchioness of Hertford, and greeted them with graceful yet perfect selfpossession, while the manner of her salutation was remarked by hundreds, and they were dumb with surprise and admiration at both her exceeding beauty and grace. Could this be a goverucss—a girl of questionable character and birth—a plebeian American ? Lord and Lady Dunforth were both present and had been gratified witnesses of the pre- ! seutation, and both were as proud of Adrian i and his peerless bride as if they had been ] first and foremost in sanctioning the marriage, j instead of so bitterly opposing it. Lady Dunforth's gentle heart went out at once to the lovely "wife, with a love second ; only to that which she bore Adrian. She recalled her own long-lost child, for whom she had yearned with a mighty longing during all the long years since her death, and convinced as she was of Brownie's gentle breeding, she was now fully prepared to give her a daughter's placc in her affections. Lord Dunforth. on the contrary, inwardly cursed himself anew at having been s>o precipitate iu his denunciation of his grandson and his " plebeian bride,' if he had only waited until he had seen her he never would have been so rash ; and he began to turn over iu his mind the best way to get out of a bad fix. He knew Adrian would wish to present his wife to him, and he dreaded to meet scorn ; the sight of her 111 her proud beautv carried him vividly back to the time when he had so joyfully presented lu-r aunt as ius betrothed, arid he turned away with almost a groan, as he remembered how that joy had been suddenly turned into mourning. "Is she not lovely whispered her ladyship in his ear, as her eyes wistfully followed their retreating forms. "Lovely as an angel, but proud as a queen, I ween!" he muttered, wishing that the meeting between himself and that dignified little lady was well over with. Adrian's fond heart leaped with exultation at the homage which was being paid his darling, and the surprise -which he saw expressed in every eye contributed not a little to his amusement. People crowded round for introductions, and he well knew that all were eagerly watching every word and movement tor an opportunity to sneer anil criticise ; but 110 one could detect a flaw, in either appearance or maimer, wherewith to prove that the future Lady of Dunforth had not been "to the manner born."

But a more signal and unexpected triumph awaited them.

They were busy receiving and responding to congratulations, when all at once a familiar voice fell upon Brownie's ear, giving her a violent inward start. She pressed Adrian's arm, without giving any other sign, and he, glancing up, saw Lady Randal, Mrs. Coolidge, Sir Charles and Isabel approaching them.

Another moment the crowd separated, and they stood face to face. Sir Charles and his p»rty were evidently taken entirely by surprise, for Mrs. Coolidge as her eyes fell upon the despised governess, became white as the fan of costly feathers that she held iu her hand. Isabel grew crimson with anger ami mortification, especially as she had on at that moment the young girfs diamonds, and she looked as if she longed for the earth to open and devour her. Sir Charles, however, hastened forward, with an expression of real pleasure upon his fine face, and grasping Adrian warmly by the hand, offered his congratulations, and begged to be presented to his bride. Brownie received him gracefully and cordially", but vouchsafed to Isabel only a haughty lifting of her beautifully arched brows. She bowed distantly to Lady Kandal,

and ignoring entirely the presence of Mrs Coolidge, she turned to speak to some one at her side.

Sir Charles flushed angrily at this marked slight of his betrothed and her mother, and with a haughty bow, passed oi>. 44 1 am sorry on his account, darling : but it could not br helped, and you treated them just as vou ought, ' Adrian whispered. "I see that people have remarked jit," Brownie replied, with heightened colour ; but I could not have done had the Queen herself been au eye-witness. "Now I perceive that a still greatei trial awaits vou, 57 her husband said, ;us he saw Lord and Lady Dunforthapproaching ; "but I know you are fully equal to it.

They both knew "that many curious eyes were fastenened upon them, to see how these greetings would be exchanged. Many and various had been the reports circulated regarding his lordship s sentiments concerning his grandson s marriage; but if people were expecting any demonstration, they were deeply disappointed. Lord Dunforth approached and shook his boy heartily by the hand, and then turned with a very pale but beuignant face to the young bride.

. She,could not...take his hand, but'swept him a charming courtesy, with every appearance of marked respect; then, with very bright eyes, and her slender form very erect, she turned to greet her ladyship, and was soon chattering upon the most friendly terms with her. "By Jove !" muttered Lord Dunforth to himself, "she understands herself perfectly. The most critical could find no fault with her greeting ; and yet to me it is very evident that I shall be obliged to hoist a flag of truce before we can come to aDy terms of peace. I'm glad of it," he added, his eyes resting admiringly upon the bright face ; it just suits me. My own Meta was not more regal." Turning to Adrian, he said with a suspicious tremble in his voice : "I heartily congratulate you, my boy I Shall there be peace between us? M " Certainly, my dear sir—if 4* I understand- you," he interrupted, " and I find no flaw in her. Indeed, Adrian, lam as proud of your triumph to-night as you can possbly be." " Thank you. If you had read the letter I wrote you, all unpleasantness might have been avoided, for in it I explained that she is a niece of your —of a Miss Douglas whom you used to know," Adrian returned. "I know all about it, my boy," his lordship said in a husky voice. I discovered all the other day when I met your wife at Capei and Armand's." " Yes, she told me you were there." "What ! did she recognize me?" and the colour flew to his facc, as he recalled Brownie's entire self-possession, and how she had ignored his presence. "Oh, yes; you know she was at Castle Dunforth several weeks since, and it is not likely that she would forget you so soon, especially as she already knew so much about you. "True," he returned, with a troubled look, adding : "I shall call upon you immediately, Adrian, and I hope to persuade you to return to us—we are very lonely." " Thank you ; but we will talk further of tint another time. We shall be delighted to see you at the Lan. ham, and I have much more to tell you regarding the circumstances of the past three or four weeks," Adrian returned, gravely. Meanwhile Isabel and hei mother were in anything rut a comfortable frame of mind. They had been thunder-struck upon beholding Brownie in all her glory leaning upon Adrian's arm. They had not dreamed of such a thing as her .already being his wife, and while they were intensely relieved to tind that no evil had befallen her, yet they experienced the direst concerns regarding the future for themselves. ! There was no enjoyment for them after : that uncomfortable encounter, and pleading ' fatigue, they persuaded Sir Charles to withdraw almost immediately, while they racked her brains, trying to solve the riddle of the young girls escape from that secret chamber. They had returned from Paris rather earlier than they had anticipated, their arrangements regarding the trousseau having been more easily effected than they had expected, so, as Sir Charles was anxious to be back at Vallingham Hall, to superintend some alterations which he desired completed before his marriage, they had hastened home. On reaching London fihey had found cards awaiting them for ball at Manchester House, and remained to attend the festivities. They had seen hardly anyone since their arrival, consequently they knew nothing of the nine days' wonder which was agitating the minds of the Londoners. Lady Randal professed to be horrified at the course which Adrian had taken, and hoped his grandfather would disown him for ever, for the disgrace he had brought upon the family. She believed that he knew all he time where Miss Douglas was that evening when he had so boldly announced his betrothal, and had ouly them told of the engagement to soften the scandal of the act he was even theu contemplating. Of course, not being co.nizant of the part the Coolidges had played in the little drama, this was the only construction she would be likely to put upon the matter. Sir Charles was highly indignant at the treatment which his party had received, while at the same tune he was secretly uneasy about the whole aitair. He could not understand it, and the more he pondered upon it the more puzzled he grew, for he felt that there must be something underneath it all, which ought to be accounted for and thoroughly sifted. Yet after Mrs. Dredmond's reception of his betrothed, which appeared to him almost like a public insult, he was too proud and too deeply wounded to seek any explanation from Adrian, between whom and himself, until now, the firmest friendship had existed. [To be continued,]

4: "A New Tale, by a popular author, will be commenced next week.