REGINALD'S FORTUNE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8610, 4 July 1891, Page 3 (Supplement)

REGINALD'S FORTUNE.

BY MRS. HARRIET LEWIS, Author of " Lady Roslyn's Pensioner," " The Ilouse of Secrets," " The False Heir," " The Heiress of Egremont," etc, CHAPTER XXXIV.— (Continued.) INVOKING PITY. It was the day of the intended return of Mr. Aylmar and Reginald to the manor, and the day but one before that upon which Reginald would attain his majority.

The young gentleman and his friend sat in the dressing-room of the former, engaged in putting away letters, etc., before proceeding with tho heavier business of packing away clothing. " 1 am not satisfied with the result of our visit to the lodge, Reginald," said Mr. Aylmar, breaking the silence, and speaking in a thoughtful tone. " We have accomplished very little since coming here. Mr. Reid Westcourt has very carefully avoided all allusions to your fortune since my coming, although the facts must be present on his mind that ors the day after to-morrow you will be twenty-one years of age, and on that day, by your father's will, you should come into full possession of your property. I cannot leave matters in this unsettled state." " But what shall wo do, sir ?" responded Reginald. " I do not like to create a ecandal out of our family affairs, if I can help it. I should like to try peaceful means first." " We will do so. We will have no trouble until after the Weetcourts visit to the manor. We shall have a house full of guests, and public opinion among them may constrain your uncle to an act of justice We ought to see Mr. Fennes, Reginald, and find out what papers ho alluded to in his letter, and whore they are gone. That we will discuss hereafter. I Bee Mr. Westcourt walking in the grounds, and will go down to see him." Ho proceeded to the garden, inhere the owner of tho lodge was walking to and fro, smoking a cigar, and was greeted with even more than usual courtesy by the merchant. " In two hours more you will bo on your way home, 1 suppose, Mr. Aylmar," said the merchant, throwing away his cigar. " We should miss you greatly were it not that we shall follow you tomorrow. I wish that you h:td left this a/Fair of the fete in my hands; as he is my nephew, Reginald's majority should bo celebrated at my home—or at least it seoms so to me." "It would be foolish, perhaps, to make any ftte on this occasion, it Reginald were doomed to a life of struggling poverty, Mr. Westcourt," responded Mr. Aylmar, gravely. "The lato Mr. Reginald Westcourt unfortunately left his affairs in a very unsettled oondition, and there is no proof as to how much lie did or did not leave his son, unless he left piuwrs tp show. Therefore, everything is dependent upon your honour as a gentleman and a guardian, and upon your affection for your nephew." " I hope you don't menu to insinuate —" " I insinuate nothing, sir. Wβ understand each other, Mr. Westcourt, for I hart a plain talk with you upon ono occasion on this sumo eubject, and my sentiments, then

expressed, remain unchanged. I do not wish to quarrel with you, sir, nor to excite hard feelings. I wish only to suggest that on the day after to-morrow Reginald will attain his twenty-first year, and on that day it would be fitting that he Bhould come into jopsession of the fortune left him by his late father." The merchant remembered the many contradictory statements he had made in regard to the contested property, and hesitated before replying, lest he should declare the least effective one, or be reminded of the other. At last he said : " I have a cordial respect for you, Mr. Aylmar, and a father's affection for my nephew. 1 have already told you that he has no property in prospect. Unfortunately the love and care with which he was treated in my family imbued his childish mind with false impressions. lam sorry for hie disappointment in finding himself penniless, and am willing to compromise the matter by receiving him as my son-in-law. As Oriavm's husband his future will be secure."

Mr. Aylmar replied frankly that Reginald did not admire his cousin, and that he oved devotedly another maiden, but the statement was received with coldness, the merchant declaring that he had no faith in euch childish affections, and it would be bettor for his nephew to conduct himself like a sensible man.

Mr. Aylmar continued to urge Reginald's claims, and the merchant, wearied at his pertinacity, finally said : " I wll look over my affairs, and see if I can do anything for my nephew. I will give you my decision at the manor upon his birthday. If I should do anything for him, it would only bo from a feeling of affection for him, and my regard for you." With this docision Mr. Aylmar was forced for the present to content himself, and he returned soon after to Reginald, reporting tho result of the interview, and declaring that he believed it would be necessary to invoke the aid of the law in order to learn the whole truth and regain the withheld fortune.

A couple of hours later therefrom the carriage came bo the door, Mr. Aylmar and Reginald took their leave of the Westi."ourt family with well-concealed joy, and departed for Aylmar Manor to prepare for tho festivities of the forthcoming fete. CHAPTER XXXV. THE FKTE. . " Manhood at last! ami, with its consciousness, Are strength and freedom ! freedom to pursue The purpose of hop —the godlike bliss Born in the struggle for t.he great and true! Anil every energy that should bo mine, This day i dedicate to its object." W. a SIMMS. "Love's reign is eternal, : , The heart is his throne, Anil he has all seasons Of life for his own." Moore. , The day upon which Reginald Westcourt attained his majority was one of the loveliest that even the month of June can afford. The sky was cloudless—-with the exception of those white and fleecy clouds that but enhance the beauty of the blue heavens, and the air was balmy with .the fragrance of flowers and musical with the songs of birds. Aylmar Manor presented a scene worthy of the day and the event. Within the mansion was gathered a large party of guests, a small number of whom had been invited to stay the week. Among the latter were Miss Tracy and Willa Heath, Mr. and Mrs. Westcourt and their daughter, and several country families with whom Mr. Aylmar and Reginald were on terms of intimate friendship. During the morning the tenants had erected light arches at various distances along tho drives and about the grounds, and one great arch over the wide entrancefates, and these were wreathed thickly with owers, many of them in the form of appropriate mottoes. In the afternoon the tenants appeared with groups of villagers, all intent upon doing honour to Mr. Aylmar's adopted son, who was greatly beloved on his own account, and still more for the proprietor of the manor. "

Mr. Podley, who appeared'to have constituted himself master of ceremouies, gave notice of their approach, and Mr. Aylmar and the hero of the day conducted their guests to the lawn, where an address was read by one of the tenants, in which he dwelt particularly upon the constant kindness and friendliness with which they had ever been treated by their landlord, and concluded by invoking blessings upon his head and that of the young gentleman whose coming of age they were now celebrating. The address was a feature quite unexpected to Mr. Aylmar and Reginald, both of whom were affected by this display of gratitude and affection. The former replied to it in a few brief but expressive sentences, and the latter was then called upon for a speech, many of the younger guests joining laughingly in the demand. The speech was given, Reginald finding courage—if it were lacking—in the admiring sjlannes of Willa Heath, who seemed to consider that there was nothing he could not do, and whose dark eyes grew still brighter with pleasure at his success. The speeches over, Mr. Podley, who had been industriously wiping his eyes for several minutes and contemplating Miss Tracy to see if she wore not quite overcome at the feeling speech of his master, drew up hia portly figure, and began to assume his part in the proceedings. This part was to conduct tne tenantry to a long table spread upon the lawn under the tree, where at that very moment Mrs. Podley and a staff of servants were engaged in putting the finishing touches of an oldfashioned and substantial repast of roast meats, etc., flanked by puddings and unlimited quantities of nle. The delight of the tenants were shared by the host and family guests, who could not, if they would, avoid sympathising with such simple but hearty enjoyments. The crowning feature of the festivities, however, was to come. Witli the approach of evening the trees on the lawn were hung with coloured lanterns, whoso parti-coloured lights illumined the whole scene, and the tenantry, young and old, gathered in front of the mansion, which was also illumined for an opening ball.

It was arranged to conclude tho festivities with a display of fire-works, and in the meantime all was gaiety and gladness. The family guests gathered at the windows and on tho portico, watching the tenants, and making laughing comments upon such incidents as attracted their notice.

Considerable mirtli was exacted when the portly Air. Podloy, clad in garments that mitrht have been fashionable in his youth, led" out a tall, slender girl, who seemed to be quite a belle among her companions. Tho mirth was deepened when the equally portly Mrs. Podley, robed in a red silk gown, and wearing a wreath of natural roses, took her part in the dance in company with an awkward country youth, whose ideas of dancing were decidedly outre.

The evening was delightful, and the family guests soon quitted the mansion, wandering about tho grounds, many of them joining the tenantry. Among the httor was Miss Tracy, who found herself in company with Mr, Aylmar on leaving the portico, and who went with him among the tenants, remarking with what respect he was received and how kindly he greeted oach by name, showing that every tenant was personally well known to him. Some of the young gentlemen desired to dance with the village girls, and their requests were acceded to, not without blushes and tosses of the head by the favoured damsels, and mutterings of incipent jealousy from tho less graceful village beaus. Mr. Reid Westcourt was fortunate enough to find an old baronet who liked to discues stocks and consols, and ho retreated with him to the deserted drawing-room, where they engaged in an exceedingly dull conversation. Mrs. Westcourfc became, to her great delight, quite friendly with a dowager lady of rank, with whom she discussed the pedigree of tho Westcourt family, the latest faehions, her daughter's accomplishments, thoir proposed residence at the abbey, and dropped mysterious hints of a magnificent marriage in prospect for Mien Oriana. Miss Westcourt joined a group of young people for a time, but at length, with a furtive look ab her watch, glided away from tho gay throng, passing down a deserted path to a group of treoa at the foob of tho garden. She had barely reached that protecting shadow when she was joined by her noblo euitor, the " Prince Villetsky." •• Are you hero, tny own ono V ho asked,

seemingly disregarding the evidence of is vision. '' Do I indeed behold you ?" " You do, dear prince," returned Oriana, permitting' him to carry her hand to his lips. " I liave kept my promise and have come to meet you. How quickly you have followed me from the lodge." " I came in the same train as yourself, my dearest," was the fond response. " I am stopping at the village inn, and a most vile place it is for a prince of the house of Villetsky. But for your sake I can endure anything, Oriana. Shall we not soon be vedded an J put an end to our trials ? You have the jewels of which your mother spoke, and vby vaib longer? Let us fly to-night, this hour.' -, •' Oh, not tonight," said Oriana. "I am not ready to go to-night. But there is some talk of an excursion to the abbey tomorrow—one of papa's estates, you know, prince—and then I might join you." ** My dearest, my princess!" was the rapturous reply. " To-morrow ve shall go to Scotland. Vβ shall marry and return to your father, who vill forgive you for making yourself a princess without his consent, and he vill pay me your fortune." Oriana acceded to this plan, quite giddy ot the thought of so soon becoming a princess, and the " prince" proceeded to arrange with her the particulars of their intended flight. While this little scene was transpiring, Reginald had been among the tenants, exchanging greetings with all and receiving their congratulations upon the happy event they were commemorating. Leaving them at last, he sou£ht a gay group, the central figure of which was the sparkling little Willa. Hβ was greeted by her with a blush and a smile, and she said : "Do you know where auntie is, Mr. Westcourt ? J. fear she is lost."

"If you will accept my escort we will look for her," responded Reginald. " I saw her a few minutes since with Mr. Aylmnr, and I think they are still engaged in entertaining the old people who cannot dance." Excusing herself to her young friends Willi* left them with the intention of seeking her aunt. For some minutes the young couple walked on in silence, and then the 'little maiden exclaimed : " Why, Regie, what are we doing hare ? We are quite away from all the dancers and everybody olse." " I know it, Willa," answered Reginald, leading her to a rustic bench and seating himself beside her. "But I want to see you for a few moments alone. You have smiled upon me, as on everybody else today, but you haven't once told me that you are glad I am twenty-one to-day, that I am ready to enter upon my manhood with health and vigour, or expressed a hope that my future may be a success worthy of the talonts with which I have been endowed, and the friendship that has been bestowed upon me." " But I thought you knew all the time how glad 1 was," was the earnest and artless response. "Do you suppose I could smile : so, Regie, if I were nob perfectly happy." Reginald took her hands, and as he looked down upon her sweet face he saw that there were tears of deep feeling in her eyes, even while a smile fluttered about her lips. " I might have known that you rejoiced with mo, and hoped for me," he answered, in toiies of self-reprqgph. " You could not be happy if I were unhappy. Dear Willa, I have great dreams of the future, of distinguishing myself, and making my name honoured and revered. I hope to make our country proud of me and that I am her son, and my ambition is nob ignoble. But the intellect is always clogged if the heart is not at rest. And I fear that my dreams will be only dreams if I have no loving" heart to sustain me, no gentle hand to encourage me, no sweet voice to counsel me. A true woman is a man's best counsellor."

Ho paused, searching her face for encouragement to continue, and he noticed that she became very pale, and the maiden covered it with her hands. Fearful that he was startling her by an unexpected avowal of his feelings while she but regarded him with fond, sisterly affection, and tortured by a sudden apprehension that she might love another, Reginald subdued his eagerness and resumed : " Dear Willa, ifc is eaid thab every man loves once. I love now ! My love has been the growth of years, has survived every remembrance of my boyhood, and has grown into the strong, enduring passion of manhood. Ifc is you whom I love, Willa ! It is your image that has always been present with me through the years of our separation. I cannot be happy without you ! Will you become the angel of my life, my best friend, my counsellor, my wife?" He expressed the last word as though, to him, it comprehended all that was noblest, and sweetest, and best in life, and he waited with a sinking heart for her reply. The atiswer was totally unexpected. "Why, you know, Regie," said Willa's sweet but trembling tones, in which was perceptible a faint accent of surprise, " I always thought—" Her voice faltered, and she paused, but her meaning was sufficiently plain to her enraptured lover, and he clasped her to his heart, pressing reverent kisses upon her pure forehead. " You always thought that we should be married sometime, Willa?" he askod, after a pause. " I—l ahvo.ys thought we were engaged," was the hesitating reply. " You know I promised years ago " " You are the truest and noblest of women, dear Willa!" declared Reginald. " I had feared that you had forgotten years ago our childish betrothal, but it seems you have regarded it all these years us a sacred compact to be some day fulfilled ! I have built a great many day-dreams upon that childish promise, Willa, and they will now bo realised ! Are you sure that you love me mope than all the rest of the world, darling, and that you will never love anyone better than me?"

The maiden answered only by a look of love and trust, but that reply proved perfectly satisfactory, even to her enthusiastic and ardent young lover. We will not venture to record all that was said by the lovers in their happiness ; how fondly they dwelt upon their childish betrothal and confessed that each had always looked upon it as sacred ; how their hearts had never known another love than this, and how neither could be happy in a future unshared by the other. " I feel as though dear Mr. Aylmar ought to share n>y happiness," said Reginald, at last, remembering his kind friend. 4< Come with mo to him, darling. Hβ has had scarcely a chance to speak to you." Willa took her lover's proffered arm, and they proceeded in quest of Mr. Aylmar. They had not quitted the walk when they cncpuntered him in company with Miss Tracy, to whom he was pointing out some particular star in the heavens, discussing with her his favourite science, astronomy. " Ah ! here are our runaways '."exclaimed Mr. Aylmar, with a smile, as the young couple approached. "We have been looking for you Miss Willa.. and for Reginald, too ! People are inquiring for the hero of the fe.lt and its fair belle." Willa blushed under this gay salutation, but Reginald answered, with grave earnestness :

"Miss Tracy, Mr. Aylmar—Willa has promised to be my wife, and we want your approval and sanction to our engagement." " You have mine, my dear boy !" declared Mr. Aylmar, heartily, brushing a suspicious moisture from his eyes. " Nothing can give me greater happiness than to see you married to Willa Heath. Miss Tracy's nioce must be as good as she ia beautiful." Ho pressed Reginald's hand and gave Willa a fatherly kiss, and then waited for Miss Tracy's decision. It wns to the same effect, but given with tremulousness and hesitation, as if the lady felt it hard to give up her niece even to Reginald. " Reginald has a prior claim upon her, Miss Tracy," said Mr. Aylmar. " You remember how he defended her in her childhood, as you have just been telling me." " I know it, Mr. Aylmar," was the steady reply, and Miss Tracy joined the hands of the young couple, kissing them both. " I pray they may be as happy as they deserve to be. Heaven bless them !" The young lovers lingered a little while with their friends, and then Reginald drew Willa away, conducting her toward the lawn that their absence might be no longer remarked. " How happy they are," said Mr. Aylmar, with a sigh, as Willa's white robe fluttered out of sight. "These children haven't given a single thought to such vulgar things as money or support. At this moment Reginald would nob feel his loss if ho wore robbed of every penny." " They will not be poor," answered Miss Tracy, " foe Willa will have a fortune of

her own. Bub do they not sefm too young to marry, Mr. Aylmar? Ib eeeme but a few days since I took Willa to my home and heart, and I cannot lose her so soon. Longholme will be desolate indeed when her sweet voice ceases to be heard within its walls. I shall he very lonely without her." "I know you will, Miss Tracy," returned Mr. Aylmar, sympathisingly. "We shall both be desolate when those children whom we have reared fly from our nests to build one of their own. "But it is only natural that they should do so, and we must learn to rejoice in their happiness."

"Then you advocate their early marriage ?" " I do. Theirs mno sudden love frotn which they might awaken to indifference. They had loved each other eince early childhood, and their characters are unusually well developed. Were you to ask my advice I should say let them marry upon YVilla's eighteenth birthday. Had I been married earlier in life my career might have been different."

There was a tone of sadness in Mr. Aylmar'e voice that touched Miss Tracy, but concealed her emotion, declaring that she accepted his counsel, and that Willa's next birthday should also be her marriage-day. " Willa is very like her mother ab the same age, 1, said Mr. Aylmar, thoughtfully. " But here we are at the same bench upon whicli our children have been sitting. Won't you rest a little, Miss Tracy, while we discuss the events of the day ?" The lady assented, drawing her fleecy Shetland ehawl over her white shoulders to protect them from the evening air, and they seated themselves side by side upon the bench. " I have been much amused," resumed the host, in a lighter tone, " to hear Mr. and Mrs. Westcourt exprese their astonishment to the various guests that Reginald, who was no kin to the Aylmars, should have such a. fete. They think ib ridiculous under the circumstances."

Miss Tracy smiled. " I half expected that something would have been said by Mr. Westcourt in regard to Reginald's fortune to-day," remarked Mr. Aylmar, " but he has carefully avoided the subject, as well as a private inter dew with me. Let mo explain to you Reginald's position." He did so, relating how he had become interested in the young gentleman when a mere boy, and the efforts he made in his bohalf. From this subject he wandered to othere, bub ab length a pilence fell between the couple which remained for some unbroken, both seeming absorbed in painful memories. And yet eaoh felt/ a sense of exquisite happiness in the presence of the other, and each dreadei the return to the general company, as if such a movement would make them again strangers. '' This evening reminds me of another some years ago," said Mr. Aylmar, finally, bis voice uneven, and features working with emotion. " I intended that evening to ask you to be my wife, Johanna—pardon me for uttering theold familiar name—but w#>were interrupted, and I wrote you a letter instead. You refused me. I do nob blame you for that -, you were quite right in doing so, since you could not love me ; bub you seemed to have encouraged me before, and I anticipated a different answer. Seeing you again so unchanged, so beautiful, brings ib all back to mo to-night with renewed force. Forgive me if I offend you, Miss Tracy, with thepo unpleasant reminiscences. It is singular that we should meet again after so many years, and neither married. I wonder you never married, Johanna." Miss Tracy clasped her hands, and bent over them in an attitude of mental pain, tears dimming her eyes. "I am sure you must have loved," said Mr. Aylmar, shading his face with his hand. Miss Tracy bowed assent. Mr. Aylmar's features seemed suddenly convulsed with emotion, and he continued, in a changed voice : " For you to love one is to love forever. Is is not so, Johanna?" Miss Tracy bowed again. "Do not think I ask from any reviving hopes, Miss Tracy," said her host, endeavouring to regain his calmness. "Ib is nob so. I can bear my own lob, I suppose, bill bhe end, but. if by any sacrifice I could make you happy, I should be blessed. If my services, as a brother, could ever be of benefit to you, command bhem. You have a nature "well calculated to make home happy, and, though ib might never be my home, I should like to see you in your proper sphere. I cannob bear to think of you growing old, Johanna—aa some time you will—without your having a loving arm to sustain your faltering steps, and a loving heart to rest upon. I should like you to marry the one who is nearer and dearer to you than even little Willa. Is he dead or married, Johanna ?" "Neither," answered Mies Tracy, in a low tone that seemed to possese sudden resolution. "He does not know that I love him, but I think he loves me yet." "He would be a monster if he did nob," said Mr. Aylmar, who seemed bent on selftorture. " Did you have a misunderstanding with him ?" "Yes." " If could assist in clearing ib away, Miss : Tracy, I should be most happy to do so. I could manage the affair delicately, so that your modesty or self-esteem might nob be touched—"

He paused, unable to complete the sen' tence.

" If you would tell him," said Miss Tracy, " than when ho offered me his hand I was labouring under a mistake, and refused him on account of it. I have always regretted my mistake. Let me presume upon your kindness to tell you how ib occurred. It was years ago it happened—when Willa's mother was a young girl. She was of my own age, and we were very happy together. I loved her as though she had been my sister, instead of niece. From a half-confi-dence of Willa's I thought her in love with the gentleman who had won my love, and that he loved her in return. When he proposed to me, therefore, I refused hiro, considering his professed love for me bus; a temporary fancy from which he would soc: recover and return to Willa. Besides, I could nob bear the thought of marrying the man who had professed love to her. And so I refused him, as I said, and went abroad, remaining there for years." "The gentleman could not have been Mr. Heath, whom she married, for he is dead."

" No. The half - confidence that had proved so fatal to my happiness was afterward completed by Willa, in a letter announcing her marriage with Mr. Heath, and I found that, by some strange fatality, I had made a fearful mistake. She had meant Mr. Heath in speaking of her lover, bub the impression she had given me was very different, although she had nob meant to deceive me. And then I wrote a note from Italy to my former lover, including Willa's and a simple statement of my mistake. I fancied that that letter might bring him back to me without comprising my delicacy, bub ib never did. I think now he must have failed to receive it."

Mr. Aylmar had listened to all this with a continually changing countenance, and and when she concluded, lie said : "A little explanation at this late day would set the matter all right, Johanna. Let me go to him and learn if, ho ever received that letter. Confide in me his name. Your delicacy shall not bo compromised, believe me."

But Miss Tracy only drooped her hwd, without a word, as if she regretted what she had already said. The gentleman looked at her a moment in silence, and then a sudden joy flashed into his face, and he exclaimed :

"Johanna, speak to me! Am I that lover of whom you have spoken ? Am I the one whom you loved and still love ? Do I deceive myself, or am I at last the happiest and most blessed of men ? The reply for which he had waited ?o breathlessly came in a low whisper of sweet import, and ho clasped her in his arms, astonished at his own unexpected bliss. Explanations were given, Mr. Aylmar declaring that he had never received the letter alluded to, and ho succeeded in eliciting a promise of a speedy marriage, Miss Tracy stipulating only that the engagement should be kept secret a day or two, until after her return to Longholme. "What do I nob ovvo to Reginald? exclaimed Mr. Aylmar. " Had ib not been for tho trouble about his fortune ho would nob have made my acquaintance, we should have hud no f'ttc today, and you and I, dear Johanna, would have gone down to our separate graves alone ! So Mr. Wostcourt a wickedness has been the means of far greater good. Nevertheless," he added, smiling, " we cannot expect this evildoer to bring forth more benefits, eo I'll apeak to him in

a day or two about rpndering up Mβ accounts ! Our first duty is to share our joy with Reginald and Willa, as they have shared theirs with us." Miee Tracy book his arm, and tfeey proceeded in search of the young lovers. [To b« continued.] The opening chapters of a new &n3 brilliant emotional story, by the wellknown authoress. Bertha M. Clay, will be commenced in the New Zealand Hebam* next week. The story is one of the besb this talented author ha? written