VIRGIE'S INHERITANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8986, 25 February 1888, Page 3 (Supplement)

VIRGIE'S INHERITANCE.

BY MRS. GEORGIE SHELDON Author of " That Dowdy," " Brownie's Triumph," Ac., &c. CHAPTER XXXIII. AFTER EIGHT YEARS. Eight years havo passed since Lady Linton, with her son and daughter, her cousin William Heath, and his family, visited America ; since she so nearly fell a victim to that railway disaster and was rescued by the woman whom she had hated, whom she now hated a hundred-fold.

It is a beautiful winter's morning, and in the sunny, elegantly appointed dining-room at Heathdale an interesting group of fivo persons is gathered around tho bountifully spread breakfast-table.

At one end sits Sir William Heath, a handsome, dignified gentleman a little above forty, yet hardly looking that, for the fleeting years have touched him but lightly, in spite of the great sorrow which has lain so heavily upon his heart and robbed his life and his home of its chief joys—tho love and presence of a fond, true wife, the patter of ittlo feet, and the happy laughter and merry chatter of childish voices. Opposite him, and engaged in serving coffee, is his sister, Lady Linton, who has changed greatly during the last eight years. She has grown old and wrinkled, and her face has hardened, if that could be possible. There is a cynical expression about her thin mouth, and her eyes are cold and critical in their expression, excepting when they rest upon her children, who now sit beside her, one at her right, the other at her left hand. Percy Linton lias done credit to the promise of his youth, and is a fine young man of twenty-one, honest, noble, and thoughtful beyond his years. Ho is lately home from Oxford, where he achieved groat honours, and is now planning to return to tho neglected and impoverished estate, which his father's prodigality nearly ruined, with the intention of reclaiming it and restoring it to something of the thrift and prosperity for which it was noted under tho care of his grandfather, for whom he is named, and whoso mantle seems to have alien upon him. His mother is not at all in sympathy with these plans. She wishes her son to adopt a public career. She still has strong hopes that he will fall heir to her brother's title and property, in which case there would be no need of his spending tho best years of his life in striving to redeem a heavily mortgaged estate. Sir William, however, heartily approves of his noble resolve, and promises to assist him in every possible way, and, with this encouragement, he has decided to devote himself to Linton Grange. Lilian Linton is a brilliant and beautiful girl of nineteen. She is a clear brunette, with a lovely bloom on her checks, vividly red lips, dark eyes and hair. Her features are delicate and regular, sho is tall and finely formed, attractive in manner, but in disposition and temperament she i 3 much like her mother.

The remaining individual of the group was Rupert Hamilton, Sir William Heath s ward, and the child of his dear friend, Major Hamilton, who died several years ago. He is now a young man of twenty, tall and stalwart in form, with a well-shaped head set proudly upon a pair of square, broad shoulders. Ho has a handsome and intelligent face, with a pair of full wine-brown oyes, which always meet yours with a clear, steady gaze, that proclaims a noble character and a clear conscience.

His nose is something after the Roman type, his mouth firm and strong, yet when he smiles, as sweet and expressive as a woman's. One would know at a glance that ho was true and generous, kind and genial. One could perceive also that Sir William loved him like a son by the affectionate glances which he bent upon him, by his answering smile whenever their eyes met, and the confidential tone which he used when addressing him. The young heir to half a million of pounds thought his guardian the noblest man in the world, and ho would have deemed no service too difficult or disagreeable to perform for him.

He knew something of the trouble of his early life, that lie had been married and parted from his wife, although he had never heard her name spoken, or asked a single question upon the subject, and ho had always felt a peculiar tenderness and sympathy for him on this account. The fact of Sir William's marriage was no longer a secret, although Lady Linton had tried every way to conceal it. It was not very generally known, however, even now ; but in his own household and among his intimate friends it was understood that ho had married a beautiful woman when on his first visit to America, and that some cruel misundorstanding had resulted in a separation. He had insisted upon this explanation, for hope was not yet quite dead in his heart that some time he might find Virgie, effect a reconciliation, and bring her homo to Heathdale. .

Those who knew that he waa free to marry again, if ho choose, sometimes urged him to do so, and not allow his name to become extinct.

But he always replied with a heavy sigh: " 1 have a wile already, and some time, please Heaven, I shall find her. No other shall ever be mistress of Heathdalo while I live."

This reply never failed to arouse the fiercest anger in Lady Linton, who grew more bitter with every year towards the woman whom alio had wronged, and who had repaid her injuries with such kindness and Christian charity to her everlasting shame and humiliation.

" ' Wife,' indeed !" she once retorted. " A woman who divorced herself from you in tho way she did, coolly severing the bonds which you seem still to hold in such reverence, is not worthy the name.

"But I loved her, Miriam— love her still ; I shall be true to hor till I die," her brother answered. " Our separation has been the strangest thing in tho world—it is wholly incomprehensible to me ; but if I ever find that we havo been the victims of treachery, lot the enemy who has meddled beware !"

Twice during these last eight years he had crossed the Atlantic and renewed his search for Virgio, but Without obtaining tho least clue to her whereabouts, and so he returned again to his home. He never intruded his sorrow upon anyone ; indeed his life flowed along so calmly and smoothly that a stranger might have supposed that he had remained single from choice, although there was a wistful sadness in his eyes that impressed everyone. Of late ho had interested himself considerably in politics, and been in Parliament, having been returned for his borough several times.

But to return to the breakfast-table, from which wo have roved, and where an animated discussion was in progress, together .with the disposition of the many tempting viands. " I am sure I do nob know what I am going to do without you during the next six months, Rupert," Sir William remarked. " Here I was anticipating having you all to myself for awhile, after you got through school, and now you want to go roving the first thing." "les, I do want to see a little of the world I live in, I confess, before I choose my profession ; and you have told me so many interesting things about America, and American people, that I have a curiosity to see the country and mingle wibh the people myself. Why can't you come with mo, Uncle Will then we need not be separated," concluded the young man, wistfully. m " 1 should be glad to, my boy, "bub my time and attention wul have to bo given to the interests of the borough for this year," responded his guardian. " The troubles in Ireland, too, bid fair to be pretty serious, and every true-hearted Englishman ought to give careful thought to the questions that are arising in connection with them." " I hope that I am a true-hearted Englishman, but since I cannot cast my vote until next year, I presume you will not consider me disloyal for running away for a little while," Rupert said, earnestly. " No, indeed. I want you to go, since you desire it so much, and, considering all things, this is the best time for you to go. Let me see ; it is a Raymond excursion to California that you have decided to join after reaching New York, I believe." Yes, the circular which Raymond has issued is so attractive I could not resist it. I feel sure that by joining this party I shall see more of the country, in less time and to better advantage, than I could to travel by myself and lay out my own route."

" Will you be with a large party, Rupert ?" Lilian asked, her colour deepening and a rather anxious expression in her eyes. Lilian Linton had learned to love Rupert Hamilton with a strong and passionate affection, and this attachment had been most unwisely fostered by her mother, who was still determined that her idolised daughter should marry her brother's wealthy young ward, and the heir to still greater prosperity and honour, if it was possible to accomplish it. " I do not know how large the party will be, Lilian ; probably there will be quite a number in it," he answered.

" All gentlemen ?" "Oh, no, I judge not from some hints that are given regarding the equipments necessary for the journey; for articles which only ladies require are mentioned in them." Lilian lost some of her brilliant colour, and her eyes drooped at this reply. " But do you like the idea of mingling so freely with strange people ?" she asked, with a slight curl of her red lips. " Americans, too,"' she added, slightingly. "Why, Lilian, are you so prejudiced against our neighbours over the sea 2" exclaimed the young man, in surprise. The girl shrugged her graceful shoulders and arched her pretty brows, but deigned no reply. The act, however, expressed far better than words could have done her contempt for the people of which they had been speaking. Percy glanced at her with a roguish twinkle in his eyes. " Rupert will doubtless meet some fair damsel among his party whose bright eyes and charming smiles will prove too much for his susceptible nature, and, before we know it, our loyal Englishman will have foresworn his colours and joined the great republic," he said, to tantalise his sister. " Oh, Percy, how little faith you have in me," laughed Rupert. "Of course I expect there will be some fair damsels in my party, but doubtless they will be so closely guarded by jealous parents and vigilant chaperons that no young man of my ago will have an opportunity to play the agreeable to them."

Neither of the young men observed the spasm of pain that contracted Sir William's brow at these remarks, nor the hardening of Lady Linton's face, as they thought of that episode in the life of the former, some eighteen years previous, while he waa travelling in America. "I trust that Rupert will not be beguiled into any indiscretions, no matter how attractive the ladies of his party may be ; lie who owes it to his self-respect to choose his wife from his conntrywomen," remarked her ladyship, with a swift glance at her daughter, whose eyes were fixed upon her plate, as if she had no interest in anything but the morsel that she was diligently reducing to mince-meat with her knife.

"Are the ladies of America more artful in that respect than those of any other nationalty, Lady Linton ?" asked the young man, innocently, but with a quizzical smile.

"I am happy to say that I know but very little about them, but what I do know has not served to prepossess me in their favour," was the sharp retort of her ladyship. Miriam, I will trouble you for another cup of coffee," said Sir William, quietly, but in a tone which warned his sister that she had better not pursue the conversation further on that line.

Then he turned to his nephew with a genial smile, saying: " I only wish Percy had not been in quite such a hurry to settle at the Grange; I would really like to have you run over to the United States with Rupert for a little holiday before you begin to work." "Thankyou, Uncle Will; but, truly,l feel that it would not be right to take either the time or the money for such a journey. My duty plainly points to the earliest possible restoration of my fallen house," the young man answered, gravely. " I wish that every young man possessed as conscientious a regard for duty as you do, Percy. I confess I honour you for your desire to clear the Grange of all incumbrance, though I would gladly be your banker, if you would consent to accompany Rupert." " You have already been my banker to such an extent that I do not feel willing to draw upon you any more. I am very grateful for all your kindness, Uncle Will, but indeed my self-respect demands that I should begin to depend upon my own exertions ; so I shall wed myself to the home of my ancestors until every debt is paid and the glory of the days of my grandfather is restored," Percy concluded, smilingly, but with a firmness which plainly told that his mind was made up regarding the course he was to pursue. " I consider it is a senseless, quixotic notion ; I think you had much better sell the place and realise what you can from it, rather than spend the best of your life in trying to pay debts that other people have contracted," said his mother, resentfully. " Sell Linton Grange exclaimed the young man, aghast. " Why, mother, where is your loyalty to the home of more than a dozen generations ?" " I nave suffered too much at Linton Grange to feel very much loyalty for bundles of mortgages, promissory notes, etc.," retorted Lady Linton, a deep flush suffusing her face,

'' Percy is right, Miriam, so do not try to discourage him. It would, indeed, be a pity to sacrifice such a grand old place, while there was the least hope of reclaiming it. It will, no doubt, be up-hill work for the first few years, but,with the spirit which animates him, I am sure he will succeed, and his reward will be sweet," Sir William said, heartily, as ho arose from the table. Then turning to his nephew, he continued, "I will ride over to the Grange with you in a couple of hours, and we will consider further the measures you proposed yesterday."

CHAPTER XXXIV. A GLIMPSE AT LILIAN LINTON'S HEART.

" Rupert, have you seen my orchids since they bloomed ?" Lilian .asked of her uncle's ward as the family were leaving the diningroom.

"No. Are you indulging in orchids, Lilian V"

"Yes; I am wild over them. Uncle Will gave me several varieties on my last birthday, and they are just doing their best for mo now. Come into the conservatory and let me show them to you." '' All right. I have a fancy for the pretty things too," replied the young man, as he followed the fair girl towards the hot-house, and thinking, as ho did so, how lovely and graceful the girl was in her perfectly fitting morning robe of garnet cashmere, trimmed with swan's-down, and which harmonised delightfully with her brilliant complexion. She took him to a sunny corner of the conservatory which Sir William had set apart, and had fitted up expressly to gratify this extravagant, whim of his pretty niece, and where the young lady had really displayed much taste and appreciation of the rare things in which sho was interested, both as to choice and arrangement. They spent half an hour or more in examining the beautiful things, and Rupert became almost as enthusiastic as Lilian herself over them.

But she had no notion of allowing even her favourite flowers to monopolise all his attention. She had had a far more important object in view in bringing him there with her.

"So you are really determined upon taking this American trip, Rupert?" she remarked, as they paused before a lovely arethusa in full bloom, from which she broke its fairest blossom, and, bending forward, fastened it to the lapel of his coat. "Oh, Lilian, what a pity to break the pretty thing !" he said, regretfully. "Nob for you," she answered, looking up at him with a smile, and flushing as she met those frank brown eyes that were regarding her with unmistakable admiration. "You would be welcome to more if you wished." "You are very generous," bo returned, regarding the flower thoughtfully, and wondering what made her blush so when with him. " Bub about my trip. Yes, I have decided that I will go. "When

" I sail just a week from to-day. , I wrote yesterday to engage my passage." " So soon !" Lilian cried, catching her breath and losing all her brilliant colour. " Yes if lam to join that excursion to the Pacific coast on the 12th of next) month, I must be off."

"The house will seem like & convent when you are gone—you are the life and soul of everything here," said the girl, tears starting to her eyes. " Thank you; I had no idea that* I waaof so much importance," he returned, lightly.

" Didn't you ?" she asked, sweeping h : m a coy look from beneath her long, dark lashes; "you have something to learn yet then. But how long will you be away ?— surely not six months, as Uncle Will said this morning. ' "Yes, I think so. I do not wish to hurry, and I mean to get a pretty thorough idea of what the United States ar&like. I think I shall be away until July or August." " Oh, Rupert! don't!—it will be too lonely and wretched for anything without you," Lilian burst forth, impetuously and in an agitated voice. "Why, Lilian !" he exclaimed, astonished, and bestowing a puzzled look upon her downcast, agitated countenance, " will you miss me like that ?"

" Did you expect you could go away for so long and not be missed ?'' she asked, tremulously. " I confess I had not thought much about it," he replied, gravely, " but 1 suppose, as we have been brought up together, and had so much in common, that no one of us could go away without being missed. However, you will have Percy." " But Percy is soon to go to the Grange, and will be so taken up with his interests there that we shall see but.very little of him. Oh, Rupert! I wish there was no such place as America," Lilian concluded, with quivering lips. " Bless you, little sister ! I never thought that my going away would upset you like this !" Rupert said, laying his hand lightly' on her shoulder, and really moved to see how she was taking it to heart. "Little sister!" she repeated, flushing crimson, and drawing her figure to its full height. J - - She was very Handsome at that moment, and Rupert wondered that he had not noticed of late how exceedingly lovely she had grown, while there was a nameless something in her expressive face, and even in her attitude, that thrilled him strangely. " Does that offend your young ladyship ?" he questioned, laughing "you are not so little, after all, and I was unfortunate in my choice of an adjective ; but you were such a tiny midget when I came here, eight years ago, that I have always regarded you as very petite." " But lam —your sister; we are not related at all," she murmured. He started, and bent a puzzled look upon her. She was standing before him, with half-averted face, her darkly fringed lids almost touching her cheeks, her bosom heaving with the heavy pulsations of her heart.

"True," he returned, in a constrained tone, " and you must pardon me if I have presumed too far ; but you must understand, Lilian, that it has become a natural consequence for me to regard you almost in that light, since one cannot live so many years in a family without becoming strongly attached to its members. I had flattered myself, too, that I had won at least a little corner in the hearts of my friends here." "You have ! You have! Oh, Rupert, I did not mean anything like that," Lilian cried, in a distressed tone and with visible agitation. " Then what did you mean ? I do not understand you," the young man asked, and leaning forward to look into her downcast face.

Lilian lifted her great dark eyes to his for an instant, and his heart gave a startled bound at what he read in their dusky depths. Then the rich blood rushed in a crimson flood to her very brow, dying even her white neck with its rosy hue. At that moment a door of the conservatory opened and shut, and the girl started guiltily from his side. "There comes the gardener," she said, with evident confusion, " and I must speak to him."

She darted away, speeding swiftly down the walk, leaving the young man speechless and amazed at Sic discovery that he had made ; for he had read in the girl's beautiful face and speaking glance the confession of her love for him.

" Whew !" he ejaculated, recovering himself after a moment, " I never dreamed of anything like that'. What in the world have I been thinking of not to realise before that she had grown a young lady, and a very beautiful one, too? I wonder if I could— can it be possible that I have—bah ! I never have meant to do any mischief in that way. Perhaps I'll—no. I'll wait until I get back from my trip ; it is very awkward. I wish it had not happened just now," he soliloquised, brokenly. He stood gazing out of the conservatory in an absent way for several minutes, his face very grave, an anxious look in his fine eyes ; but, as he heard Lilian and the gardener approaching, he passed around to another path and so out of the hot-house, and thus avoided meeting them ; he did not feel that he could encounter the young girl again just then. He wished to get away by himself and think over the revelation he had just received. The thought of love in connection with Lilian Linton had never entered his mind until now.

She had simply been a genial playmate during the earlier years of his life, sharing many of his own and Percy's sports, and a pleasant companion when, of late, he had returned to Heathdale from college to spend his vacations. He had scarcely realised — his own words betrayedthat she had reached woman's estate. He knew she was very pretty, very bright and sparkling; he knew that Heathdale would not seem like home to him without her, and he enjoyed her society as lie would that of a dear sister; but as for anything nearer, as a wife, he had never thought of her. More and more he regretted that little episode in the conservatory. The memory of it embarrassed him, try hard as he would to overcome it, and he found himself avoiding the possibility of a tete-a-tete with Lilian again, while he began to grow anxious tor the day of his departure, that he might escape the unnatural constraint that seemed to have fallen upon him. Sir William wondered what had come over him during the next few days, but attributed his unusual gravity to his regret at the approaching separation. Lady Linton knew from Lilian's manner that something had gone wrong ; but although she questioned her, she could learn nothing satisfactory, and she became more and more unreconciled over Rupert's projected tour. If she could only have succeeded in arranging an engagement between him and Lilian before he left, she would have felt quite safe in letting him go ; he would have stood committed then, and it would have been a safeguard during his absence. She did everything in her power to make it pleasant for him during the little time that remained to him at home ; she meant that he should at least take away agreeable memories with him, and he assured her again and again that he should never forget her kindness to him for all that she was doing for him. "You have been like a mother to me, Lady Linton, ever since I came to Heath - dale," he said, gratefully, to her one day when she was arranging something for his comfort during the voyage. "And you nave been like a son tome, my dear boy," she returned with a fond glance. " I shall always regard you as such. I am sure I do not know what we are going to do without you." " Six months will soon pass," Rupert said, trying to speak lightly. '' They may to you, who will be travelling constantly, but they will be long to us who wait at home. Poor Lilian ! I set her to marking some handkerchiefs for you this morning, but she broke down and cried so over her work that she had to give it up." "I am afraid I am an unworthy subject for so much regret," Rupert said, with a

sigh. Lilian's regard for him; her pale, sad face and hollow eyes were a great burden on his heart.

The day of his departure arrived, and he took an affectionate leave of his friends.

Lady Linton embraced him as fervently as if he had indeed been her son, bade him take care of himself and come safely back to them, for it would break their hearts to lose him entirely. Percy wished him every possible pleasure, and promised to write him every week. Lilian gave him an icycold hand at parting ; $here were tears on her dark lashes, ana her lips quivered painfully over her farewell; but she would not allow him to kiss her in the old friendly fashion as he used to do when he and Percy went back to school at the end of their holidays. She had vowed that their lips should never meet again until he had given her a lover's kiss. Rupert looked troubled at being thus repulsed. He understood the reason nor ib, however, and it was with a feeling of relief that he realised he was to have six months in which to make up his mind as to what his duty was toward his guardian niece* -

Sir William accompanied him to London, thence to Liverpool, .where ho saw him safely on board the staunch Cunarder thatj was to bear him across the Atlantic, after which he returned to Heathdale, feeling a3 if half the sunshine had suddenly been blotted from his life. The boy was inexpressibly dear to him, and he would hava been bereaved, indeed, if anything happened to him.

[To be continued.]