LOVE AND MONEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6996, 19 April 1884, Page 3 (Supplement)

LOVE AND MONEY.

tf. BY CHARMS B.EADE, Author of "It's Novor Too Late to Mono"," "Griffith Gaunt,""HardCa3V&c - - -. CHAPTER VI. . SHARP PRACTICE. Hope paid a visit to his native place in Derbyshire, and his poor relations shared his prosperity, and blessed him and Mr. Bartley upon his report; for Hope was one of those choice spirits who praise the bridge that carries them safe over the stream of adversity. He returned to Sussex with all the news, and, amongst tho rest, that Colonel Clifford had a farm coming vacant. Walter Cafford had insisted on a higher, rent at the conclusion of the term, but the tenant had demurred. Bartley paid little attention at the time ; Vut by-and-bye he said, " Did you not see signs of coal on Colonel Clifford's property ?" " That I did, and on this very farm, and told him so. But he is behind the age. I have no patience with him. Take one of those old iron ramrods that used to load the old musket, and cover that ramrod with prejudices a foot and a half deep, and there you have Colonel Clifford." " Well, but a tenant would not be bound by his prejudices." "A tenant !• A tenant takes no right to mine, under a farm leane he would have to propose a special contract, or to ask leave, and Colonel Clifford would never grant it." There the conversation dropped. But the matter rankled in Bartloy's mind. Without saying any more to Hope, he consulted a sharp attorney. The result was that he took Mary Bartley with him into Derbyshire. He put up at a little inn, and called at Clifford Hall.: He found Colonel Clifford at home, and X7as received stifily but graciously. He gave Colonel Clifford to understand that he iiad left business. '• All the better," said Colonel Clifford, sharply. "And taken to farming" " Ogh !" said the other, with his favourite snort. At this moment, who should walk into the room but Walter Clifford.

Bartley started and stared. Walter Started and stared.

"Mr. Bolton," said Bartley, scarcely above a whisper.

But Colonel Clifford heard it, and said, brusquely : " Bolton ! No. Why, this ia Walter Clifford, my son, and my man of business. Walter, this is Mr. Bartley." "Proud to make your acquaintance, sir," Baid the astute Bartley, ignoring the past. Walter was glad he tuok this lino before Colonel. Clifford ; not that he forgave Mr. Bartley that old affront the reader knows of. The judicious Bartley read his face, and, as a first- step towards propitiation, introduced him to his daughter. Walter was amazed at lier beauty and grace, coming from such a stock. He welcomed her courteously but Bhily. She replied with rare affability and that entire absence of mock modesty which was already a .feature in her character. To be snre she was little more than fifteen, though she was full-grown, and looked nearer twenty. Bartley began to feel his way with Colonel Clifford about the form. He told him he was pretty successful in agriculture, thanks to tfce assistance of an experienced friend, and then he said, half carelessly "By the bye, they tell me you have one to let. Is that so V "Walter," said Colonel Clifford, "have you a farm to let ?" "Not at present, sir; but one will be vacant in a month, unless the present tenant consents to pay thirty per cent, more than lie has done." "Might I see that farm, Mr. Walter?" asked Bartley. "Certainly," said Walter, "I shall be lappy to ahow'you over it." Then he turned to Mary. "I am afraid it would ba no com•pliment to you. Ladies are not interested in farms." "' Oh, bat I am, since papa is and Mr Hope; and then on our farm there are so many dear little young things; little calves, little lambs, and little pigs. .Little pigs are ducks, very little ones, I mean ; and there is nearly always a young colt about that eats out of my hand. Not like a farm ? The idea!"

"Then I will show you all over ours, you and.yonr papa," said Walter, warmly, fle then asked Bartley where he was to be found, and when Bartley told him at the "Dan Cowy" he looked at Mary and said, " Oh !" Mary understood in a moment, and laughed and said, "We are very comfortable, I assure you. We have the parlour all to ourselves, and there are samplers hung up, and oh ! such funny pictures, and the landlady is beginning to spoil me already." " Nobody can spoil you, Mary," said Mr. Bartley. " You ought to know, papa, for you have been trying a good many years." "Not very many, Miss Bartley," said Colonel Clifford, graciously. Then he gave half a start and said, " Here am I calling her • Miss' when she is my own niece, and, now I think of it, she can't be lialf as old as she looks. I remember the very day she was born. My dear, you are an impostor." Bartley changed colour at this chance shaft, but Colonel Clifford explained.

" You pas 3 for twenty, and. you can't be more than—let me see."

"I am fifteen and four months," said Mary, "and J do take people in—craelly." .

"Well, 5 * said Colonel Clifford, "you see you can't take me in. I know your date, tio come and give your old ruffian of. an uncle a kiss."

" That I will, " cried Mary, and flew at Colonel Clifford, and flung both arms around his neck and kissed him. "Oh ! papa," said she, " I have go'; an uncle now. A hero, too ; and me that is so fond of heroes. Only this is my first—out of books."

" Mary, my dear," said Bartley, " you are too impetuous. Please excuse her, Colonel Clifford. Now, my dear, shake hands with your cousin, for we must be going." Mary complied, but not at all impetuously. She lowered her long lashes, and pat out her hand timidly, and said "Good-bye, Cousin "Walter."

He held her hand a moment, and that made her colour directly. " You will come over the farm. Can you ride J Have you your habit 2"

" No, cousin : but never mind that.. I can put on a long skirt." " A skirt! But after all it does not matter a straw what you wear."

Mary was such a novice that she did not catch the meaning of thiß on the spot, hat half-way to the inn, and in the middle of a conversation, her cheeks were suddenly suffused with blushes. A young man had admired her and said so. Very likely that was the way with yonng men. No doubt they were bolder than young women ; but somehow it was not so very objectionable in them.

That short interview was a little era,in Mary's yonng life. "Walter had .fixed his eyes on her with delight, had held her hand some seconds; and admired her to her face. She began to wonder a little, and to put off childhood.

Next day, punctual to the minute, Walter drove to the door in an open carriage drawn by two fast steppers. He found Mr. Hartley alone, and why ? .because, at sight of Walter, Mary for the first time in her life had flown upstairs to look at herself in the glass before facing the visitor, and to smooth her hair, and retouch a bow, &c., underrating, as usual, the power of beauty, and overrating nullities. Bartley took this opportunity, and said to young Clifford: "I owe you an apology, and a most earnest one. Can you ever forgive me ?" Walter changed colour. Even this humble allusion to so great an insult was wormwood to him. He bit his lip and said: "No man can do more than say he is sorry. I will try to forget it, air." " That is as much as I can expect," said Bartley, humbly, "but, if you only knew the art, the cunning, the apparent evidence, with which that villain Moncliton deluded me—" ' " That I can believe," "And, permit me one observation before we drop this unhappy subject for ever. If you had done me the honour to come to me as Walter Clifford, why then, strong and misleading as the evidence was, I should have said ' appearances are deceitful; but no Clifford was ever disloyal.'" This artful speech conquered Walter Clifford, fie blushed and bowed a little haughtily at the compliment to the Cliffords. But his sense of justice was aroused. " You are right," said he. " I must try and see both sides.■'.'lf a man sails under false colours he mustn't hbwl'" if' lie is mistaken for a pirate." Let us dismins the subject for'ever. lam Walter Clifford now —at your service.'' • "The Proprietors of the Nmv Zealand Herald lho . copyright ol • tills story for the -Aprth IsiUnd o£ 3Tevr Zealand. ■

At that moment Mary Bartley .came in, beaming with youth and beauty, and illumined the room. The cousins .shook hands, and Walter's eyes glowed with ad-' miration, ' - .

After a few words of : greeting he handed Mary into the' drag. Her father followed;' and ho ,was about to drive off when Mary cried out, :" Oh, Iforgot my' skirt,. if. I am to ride." ( " The skirt was brought down, and'the horses, who were beginning to fret;dashed off.A smart little groom rode behind, and, on reaching the farm, they found another with two saddle horses; one o£ them, a small, gentle Arab gelding, had a side saddle. They rode all over the farm, and inspected the buildings, which were -in " excellent repair, thanks to Walter's supervision. Bartley inquired the number of acres and the rent demanded. Walter told him. Bartley said it seemed to him' a fair rent; still,' he should like to know why the present tenant declined. ;

"Perhaps you had fetter ask him," said Walter. "I should wish you to hear both sides." ' :

"That is like you," said Bartley; "but where does the shoe pinch, in your opinion ?"' "Well, he tells me in sober earnest that he loses money by it as it is ; butwhen he is drunk he tells his boon companions he has made seven thousand pounds here. He has one or two grass fields that want draining, but I offer him the pipes; he has only got to lay them and cut the drains. My opinion is that he is the slave of habit ; he is so used to make an unfair profit out of these acre's that he cannot break himself of it and be content with a fair one." " I dare say you have hit it," said Bartley, " Well, I am fond of farming, but I don't live by it, and a moderate profit would content me." : Walter said nothing; tho truth-is he did not want to let the farm to Bartley. - Bartley saw this, and drew Mary aside. " Should not you like to coma here, my child ?" " Yes, riapa, if you wish it; and you know it's dear Mr. Hope's birthplace." " Well then tell this young fellow so, I will give you an opportunity." That was easily managed, and then Mary said timidly, " Cousin Walter, we should all three bo so glad if we might have the farm.", "Three?" said he. " Who is the third ?'' " Oh, somebody that "everybody likes and I love. It is Mr. Hope. Such a duck. • I am sure you would like him."

"Hope! Is his name William?" " Yea, it is. Do you know him V' asked Mary, eagerly.

" I have reason to know him ; he did-me a good turn once, and I shall never forget it."

"Just like him," cried Mary. "He is always doing people good turns. He i 3 the best, the truest, the cleverest, the dearest darliDg dear that ever stepped ; and a Becond father to me ; and, Cousin, this village is his birthplace, and he didn't say much, but it was he who told ua pi this farm, and he would be so pleased if I could write and say, ' We are to have the farm —Cousin Walter says so.'" She turned herlovely eyes, brimming with tenderness, towards her Cousin Walter, and he was done for.

"Of course you shall have it," he said, warmly, " only you will not be angry with me if I insist on the increased rent. You know, Cousin, I have a father too, and I must be just to him."

" To be sure yon must, dear," said Mary, incautiously, and the word penetrated Walter's heart as if a woman of twenty-five had said it all of a sudden and for the first time.

When they got home Mary told Mr. Bartley he was to have the farm if he would pay the increased rent.

" That is all right," said Bartley.. " Then to-morrow we can go home."

" So soon !" Baid Mary sorrowfully.

"Yes," said Bartley, firmly; "the rest had better be done in writing. Why, Mary, what is the nse of staying on now? We are going to live here in a month or two." "I forgot that," said Mary, with a little sigh. It seemed so ungracious to get what they wanted and then turn their backs directly. She hinted as much very timidly. But Bartley was inexorable, and they reached home next day.

Mary would have liked to write to Walter and announce th'eir safe arrival, bat • nature withheld her. She was a child no longer.

Bartley went to the sharp solicitor, and had a long interview with him. The result was that in about ten days he sent Walter Clifford a letter and the draft of a lease, very favourable to the landlord on the whole, but cannily inserting one unusual. clause tbat looked inoffensive.

It came by post, and Walter read the letter and told his father who it was from.

"What doe 3 the fellow say ?" . grunted Colonel Clifford.

"He says : 'We are doing very well here, but Hope says a bailiff can now carry out our system ; and he is evidently sweet on his native place, and thinks the proposed rent is fair, and even moderate. As for me, my life used to be so bustling that I require a change now and then ; so I will be your tenant. Hope says lam to' pay the expense of the lease; so I have requested Arrowsmith and Cox to draw it. I have no experience in leases. They have drawn hundreds. I told them to make it fair. If they have not, send it back with objections.' " "Oh, oh!" said Colonel Clifford. "He draws the lease, does he ? Then look at it with a microscope." Walter laughed. " I should not like to encounter him on his own ground. But here be is a fish out of water; he must be. However, I will pass my eye over it. "Where the farmer generally overreaches us, if he draws the lease, is in the clauses that protect him on leaving. He gets part possession for months without paying rent, and he hampers and fleeces the incoming tenant, so that you lose a year's rent or have to buy him out. How, let me see, 1 that will be at the end of the document— No; it is exceedingly fair, this one." " Show ifc to our man of business, and let him study every line. Set an attorney to catch an attorney." "Of course I shall submit it to our solicitor," said Walter.

This wa3 done, and the experienced practitioner read it very carefully. He pronounced it unusually equitable for a farmer's lease. . ■

"However," said he, "we might suggest that he does all the repairs and draining, and that you find the materials; and, also, that i ho insures all the farm buildings. But you can hardly stand out for the insurance if he objects. There's no harm trying. Stay, here is one clause that is unusual: the tenant is to b'ave the right to bore for water, or to penetrate the surface of the soil, and take out gravel or chalk or minerals, if any. I don't like that clause. He might quarry, and cut the farm in pieces. Ah, there's a proviso, that any damage to the surface' or the' agricultural value shall be fully compensated, the amount of such injury to be settled by -the landlord's valuer or' surveyor. "Oh, come,, if you can'charge your own price, that can : t kill you."

In short, the draft was approved, subject to certain corrections. These wore accepted. The lease was engrossed in duplicate, and in due course signed and delivered. Tho'old tenant left, abusing the Cliffords, and saying it was unfair to bring in' a stranger, for he would have given all the money.

Bartley took possession.

Walter welcomed Hope very warmly, and often came to see him: He took a great interest in Hope's theories of farming, and often came to the farm for lessons. . But that interest was very much increased by the opportunities it gave him of seeing and talking to sweet Mary Bartley. Not that hei was forward or indiscreet. She was not yet sixteen, and he tried to remember she was a child.

Unfortunately for that theory, she looked a ripe woman, and this very Walter made her more and more womanly. Whenever Walter was near she had new timidity* ■ new' blushes, fewer gushes, lesß impetuosity, more reserve. Sweet innocent!: She was set by Nature to catch the man by the surest way, though she had no such design.

Oh, it was a pretty, subtle piece.of nature, and each sex played it 3 part. Bold advances of the man with internal fear to offend, moeTc retreats of the girl with internal throbs of complacency, .: and life invested with. a -new aad growing charm to both._ .Leaving this pretty little pastime to glide along ..the' flowery path that beautifies young" lives to jts inevitable climax, we go to a matter more prosaic, yet one that proved : a source of strange and stormy events. ■■■ ■ ■• ; 'Hope had hardly started the farm when hartley, sent him.off to Belgium—to study coalmines. :■ ; ; CHAPTER VIL "" .:":. THE COURSE Oi;TttCE LOVE." 'j Mr. Hope left his powerful opera-glass .with Mary Bartley. One day that Walter called she was looking through it at the

landscape, and handed it to him. He admired its power. Mary told him it had saved her life once. ; Oh," said he, •" how could that be ?" ) tThen she told him how Hope had seen her drowning a - mile off with it, and ridden a barebacked steed to her rescue. "God bless him," cried Walter. "He is our best friend. Might I borrow this famous glass?" •"Oh," said Mary, "I am not going into anymore streams ; I am not so brave now as I : used'to be." " Please lend it me, for all that." " Of course I will, if you wish it." ■ Strango to say, after this, whether Mary walked out or rode out, she very often met Mr.-'Walter Clifford. He was always delighted and surprised. She was surprised three times, and said so ; and, after that, she came to' lower Her lashes and blush; but not to start. Each meeting was a pure accident, no doubt; only she saw the inevitable occurrence.

: They talked about everything in the world except wbafc was most on their minds. Their soft tones and expressive eyes supplied that little deficiency. One day he caught her riding on her little Arab. ' The groom fell behind, directly. After they had been riding some distance in silence, Walter broke out : " How beautifully you ride !"

" Me!" cried Mary,. " Why, I never had a lesson in my life."

" That accounts for it. Let a lady alone, and she does everything more gracefully than a man ; but let some cad undertake to teach her, she distrusts herself and imitates the snob. If you could only see the women in Hyde Park who have been taught to ride, and compare them with yourself."

"I should learn humility."

" No, it would make you vain, if anything could.

; " You seem inclined to do me that good turn ; come, pray, what do these poor ladies oto offend yoa so ?" ■ " I'll tell you. They square their shoulders vulgarly; they hold the reins in their hands as if they were driving, and they draw the rein 3 to their waist in a coarse, absurd: way. They tighten both these reins equally and saw the poor devil's mouth with the curb and the Bnaffle at one time. Now, you know, Mary, the snaffle is a mild bit and the curb is a sharp one; so where is the sense of pulling away at the snaffle when you are tugging at the curb ? Why it is like the follow that made two holes at tlio bottom of the door ; a big one for the cat to come through and a little one for the kitten. But the worst of all is they show the caddess so plainly."

"Cadaess. What is that? Goddess you mean, I suppose ?" " -No, I mean a cad of the feminine gender. They seem bursting with affeotation and elated conciousness tbat they are on horseback. That shows they have only just made the acquaintance of that animal, and in a London riding school. Now, yon hold both reins lightly in the left hand, the curb loose, since it is seldom wanted, the snaffle just feeling the animal's mouth, and you look right and left to the people you are talking to, and don't seem to invite one to observe that you are on a horse—that is because you are a lady, and a horse is a matter of course to you, just as the ground is when you walk upon it."

The sensible girl blushed at his praise, but she said drily : " How meritorious ! Cousin Walter, I have heard that flattery is poison. I won't stay here to be poisoned —so," —she finished the sentence in action ; and, with a movement of her body, she atarted her Arab steed, and turned her challenging eyes back on Walter, and gave him a "hard gallop of a mile on the turf by the road side. And when she drew bridle her cheeks glowed so and her eyes glistened that Walter was dazzled by her bright beauty, and could do nothing but gaze at her for ever so long.

If - Hope had been at home Mary would have been looked after more sharply. But if she was punctual at meals that went a long way with Robert Bartley.

Howover, tho accidental and frequent meetings of Walter and Mary, and their delightful rides and walks, were interfered with jußt as they began to grow into a habit. There arrived at Clifford Hall a formidable person—in female eyes especially—a beauti-ful-heiress. Julia Clifford, great niece and ward of Colonel Clifford ; very tall, graceful, with dark grey eyes and black eyebrows, tho size of a leech, that narrowed to a point, and met in finer lines npon the bridge of a nose that was gently aquiline, but not too largo, as such noses are apt to be. A large expressive mouth, with wonderful rows of ivory, and the prettiest little black down, fine as a hair, on her upper lip, and a skin rather dark but clear, and glowing with the warm blood beneath it, completed this noble girl; she was nineteen years of age. : Colontl Clifford received her with warm affection and old-fashioned courtesy ; but, as he was disabled by a violent fit of- gout, he deputed Walter to attend her on foot and horseback.

Mias Clifford, accustomed to homage, laid Walter under contribution every day. She' was very active; and he had to take her a walk in the morning and a ride in the afternoon. He winced a little under this at first; it kept him so much from Mary. But there was some compensation. Julia Clifford was a lady-like rider; and also a bold and akilfnl one. The first time ho rode with her he asked her beforehand what sorb of a horse she would like. "Oh, anything,'.' said she, "that ia not vicious nor slow." "A hack or a hunter ?" " Oh, a hunter, if I may." • "Perhaps you will do me the honour to look at them and select." "You are very kind, and I will." .He took her to the stables, and she selected a beautiful black mare, with a coat like satin. " There," said Walter, despondiDgly, "I was afraid you would fix on her. She is impossible. I can't ride her myself." ; "Viciouß?" " Kot in the least." " Well, then—" Here an old groom touched his hat, and said - curtly : " Too hot and fidgetty, Miss. I'd as lieve ride of a boiling kettle." .Walter explained. "The poor thing is the victim of nervousness." " Which I call them as rides her the victims," suggested the ancient groom. "Be quiet, George. Sho would go sweetly *in a steeplechase, if she didn't break her heart with impatience before the start. But on the road she is impossible. If you make her walk she is all- over, lather in five minutes, and she'd spoil that sweet habit with flecks of foam. My lady has a way of tossing her head and covering you all over with white streaks." "She wants soothing," suggested Miss Clifford. ." Nay, Miss. • She wants bleeding o' Sundays, and sweating over the fallows till Bhe drops q' week-days. But if she was mine I'd put her to work a coal cart for six months— tliat would lam her." "I will ride her," said Miss Clifford, calmly ; "her or none." " Saddle :her, George," said Walter, resignedly. "I'll ride Goliah. Black Bess shan't plead a bad example. Goliah is as meek as Moses, Miss Clifford. He is a gigantic mouse." " I'd as lieve ride of a dead man," said the | old groom.

"Mr. George," said the young lady, "you pcem hard to please. May I ask what sort of animal you do like to ride?"

; "Well, Miss, summat between them two. When I rides I likes to be at peace. If I wants work there's plenty in the yard. . If I wants fretting and fuming I can go home; I'm a married man, ye know. But when I crosses a horse I looks for a smart trot £nd a short stepper, or an easy canter on a bit of turf, ana not to be set.to hard labour n-stick-ing: my heels into Goliah, nor getting a bloody, nose every now and then, from Black Bess a-throwing back her. uneasy head when Ido but lean forward in the saddle. I be ari old man, Miss, and X looks for peace on horseback if I can't get it nowhere else."

■ All this was delivered whilst, saddling Black BeBS. When she was ready Mies Clifford asked leave to hold the bridle and walk her out of the premises. . As phe walked her she patted and carressed her,' and talked to her all the time—told her they all misunderstood her because she was a female ; but now she was not to be tormented and teased, but to have her own way.

. Then she asked George to hold the mare's head as gently aH lie oould, and Walter to put her up. . She was in the saddle "in a moment. The mare fidgetted' and pranced, but did not rear. Julia slackened the reins, and patted and praised her, and let.her go. She made a run, but was checked by degrees with the snaffle. .'She had a beautiful mouth, and it was in good hands at last. . VVhen.they had ridden a few miles they came to a very open country, and Julia asked demurely, if she might be allowed to try her off.the road. " All right," said Waltor, and Miss Julia, with a smart decision that con.

lasted greatly with the meekness of bar proposal, put her straight; at the bank and cleared it like a bird. They, had a famous gallop; but this judicious .rider neither urged the mare nor greatly checked her. She moderated her. Black Bess came home that day sweating properly, but; with,a marked diminution of lather and foam.... Miss Clifford asked leave to ride her into the stable yard, and, after dismounting, talked to her and patted her, and praised her. • An hour later, the. pertinacious beauty asked for a carrot from the garden, and fed Black Bess with it in the stable. -- . By these "art 3, a very light hand, and tact in riding, she soothed Black Bess's nerves, so that at last the very touch of her , habit skirt, or her hand, or the sound of her voice, seemed to soothe the poor nervous creatnre ; and at last, one day in the stable Bess protruded har great lips, and kissed her fair rider on the shoulder after her manner. . All this interested and amused Walter Clifford, but still he was beginning to chafe at being kept from Miss Bartley, when one morning'her servant rode over with a note. . "Dear Cousin Walter,—Will you kindly send me back my opera glass ? I watit to see what is going on at Clifford Hall.—Yours affectionately, Maev Baktijsy." [To do continued.]