ESTHER THE FRIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10319, 19 December 1896, Page 3 (Supplement)

ESTHER THE FRIGHT.

" BY MRS. GEORGIE SHELDON, Author of " Brownie's Triumph," "The Forsaken Bride," " That Dowdy," etc.

CHAPTER XXX. ; . " WHAT SHAMELESS IMPOSTURE IS THIS ?' Esther eoon found herself the centre of an admiring and curious group of people, among whom there was a certain Mr. Royal?ton, who had secured an introduction, and who was trying to make himself especially agreeable to her. He was young, good looking, chatty, and entertaining, and she found him a pleasant companion. The first moment there was a lull in the general conversation, the young man remarked, with his blandest smile: " Lady lrvington, I have been requested by a friend to solicit for him the favour of an introduction to you; may' I present him?" 7 " I am sure I know of no reason why you may not," Esther replied with gracious compliance, whereupon the wi)y schemer ! disappeared, and then the attention of the fair debutante wag claimed by a fine young fellow— Captain Rothford of the Royal Guard, who observed : t "I am told, Lady lrvington, that there are quite a number of your own countrymen hore this afternoon—having been presented by their ambassador. Have you met any of them ?" "No, I have not; but I wish that I might," said Esther, with some eagerness; "for, although I suppose I must henceforth regard myself as a good and loyal subject of Her Majesty the Queen, I confess to asecrec yearning, now and then, for my native land and my own people." "Indeed, that is but natural," the young officer returned, and thinking his companion lovelier than ever with that faraway look in her beautiful eyes and the quiver of lender remembrance that) hovorod about her delibately-cliiseled mouth; "but I am sure," he added, gallantly, "if you will allow mo to uso a hackneyed expression: 'What is America's loss is certainly England's gain,' and I trust that your life among us may be full of sunshine and happiness." / "Thank you," said Esther, brightly, " and I am sure I shall be happy here, for my best friends are in England, and overy day I am making new and pleasant acquaintances." " you certainly have one of the most charming homes in the realm," her companion observed. " Ah! then you have Been lrvington Manor."

" Yes, I have been there several times during my life; ray father was quito friendly with the late Lord Irviugton's uncle. But ItghaH be obliged to ask you to excuse me, as a superior officer has signalled me." "Certainly," said Esther, and- as the handsOmo young guardsman bowed himself away, she turned to look for Mr. and Mrs. King, whom she had not seen for some minutes.

Almost at that same instant she saw Mr. Royalston approaching her, accompanied by the man whose observation had annoyed hor in' the anteroom before her presentation.

" Lady Irvington," the young man began, with ill-concealed embarrassment, as he reached her with his companion; " it seems strange that this duly should fall upon me, but allow me to present to you Mr. Harold Irvington, brother to the late Lord Irvington. Mr. Irvington, Lady Irvington." As the name, Harold Irvington, fell upon her ears, Esther's cheeks flushed to a scarlet hue, the vivid colour thus intensifying her beauty a hundredfold. But by 110 other sign did she betray that her composure had been in the least disturbed, or that sho resented the mean advantage that had been taken of her by subjecting her to this introduction in a public place. Mr. Royalston, having accomplished his purpose, and catching the flash of fire in her ladyship's eyes, excused himself, and vanished, while his friend was in the act) of bowing low and acknowledging his pleasure in making the acquaintance of his beautiful sister-in-law. ■ Esther's greeting was cold and resorved, ■ and she was just upon the point of turning away to" search for her friends, when her companion arrested her with a deprecatory gesture. " Pardon me, Lady Irvington," he said, humbly, " I know I must appear to disadvantage in thus forcing an introduction to , you after your former refusal to meet me. I know, too, that I have been represented to you as the black sheep of the family, and —and am obliged to own Sho impeachment to a certain extent. But during the last few years I liavo begun to realise that' the way of the transgressor is hard,' and to sincerely regret the past. I have long wanted to know you, and tell you this; but, of course, having been prejudiced against me, it is but natural that you should have regarded me with aversion, and so shrunk from an acquaintance with me. Will you try to believe me when I tell you that 1 would give years of my life to have the wrongs of the past obliterated ? Will you let me prove it to you in the future?'' Esther had listened to these confessions with averted face, but now she lifted hor eyes and gazed steadily and gravely at her companion. It was a trying moment for even that sin-hardened man to endure that pure, steadfast look that seemed to search his very soul. But he played his role very well; helmet it with a sad, regretful glance that diirnot once waver or flinch his air of proud humility was well assumed, and calculated to impose upon an innocent, trustful nature, and, involuntarily, the compassionate, conscientious girl began to relent toward him. Still she could nob forget the, look of suffering that convulsed the face of the wronged brother, when he told her how a cruel crime bad been fastened upon him by the jealousy and spite of this man, and, notwithstanding his presentappareut regret, and her desire to be lenient, her tones were not.quite cordial, as she replied: "I am sure, Mr. Irvington, I do not wish to cherish feelings of enmity toward the only living member of Lord Irvington's 'family. I can understand that you must have looked upon me in tho light of a usurper, and I myself realise that I occupy a delicate position—" " Pray do not speak of yourself in that way," Harold Irvington interposed, in an earnost tone; "I confess," ho continued, "that at first I was very bitter—l was angry and mortified to have been so repudiated by my family, and a stranger pat in my place; but time has softened those feelings, and I am sure that you will reign gracefully and judiciously at Irvington Manor, while, if I had come into the inheritance by succession the temptations of wealth and position might have continued to overcome mo, Believe me, Lady Irvington, I can see now that the lesson was salutary—it drove me to work for myself, and to strive to retrieve tho reputation which I had lost. Now, dear lady, this has not been an easy confession for me to make, but will you give me a chance to show the sincerity of my reformation ? Will you be my friend, and thus ihelp to me?" Again Esther searched tho handsome, vet blm, face beforo her. She was as free from guile and suspicion as a little child, and she was touched by his apparent humility, while at the same time sho was unaccountably repelled by him. " I will try," sho said, with quiet gravity, and then mentally chided herself for the inward aversion which she experienced in making this compact of friendship. Ho was quick to read her attitude toward him, and a feeling of impotent rage possessed him, as he realised that it would not bo an easy matter to win the confidence of a nature that shrank so sensitively from contact of all that was evil.' ('•' Nevertheless he had resolved to play a desperate game, for the sake of once more becoming master at Irvington Manor, and so he held a tight rein over himself. " Have you been to Irvington Manor yet!" he inquired, after a brief pause. "Not to remain for any length of time, although I have paid flying visits to the place upon two or three occasions," Esther replied. " I have been at school during the last three years, as perhaps you know." v - " Yes, so I have heard, but I suppose you will soon reopen the Manor House," he ob« * served, with a quickly repressed sigh. .' -He hoped to so work upon her feelings I that she would extend an invitation' to him

pr—• ■ to become her guest at'' some time in the' v future.'• vf- i J ->4 K-'i ; ,'f • "Notat present,"Esther returned ;"I am to remain in London during most of the . season, then I go to the Isle of Wight for a V' few weeks, with Mr. and Mrs, King, after which they, will become my guests at the manor," '•< • " It is a grand old place, Lady lrvington j in my opinion there is not a. fairer spot on earth," said the crafty schemer, in a tenderly regretful tone, and with a grieved quiver of his lips. Esther darted a pitiful look at him, while a feeling very like guilt oppressed her and mantled her cheek with a deeper flush. It seemed positively cruel to her that an lrvington and a direct heir should have been thrust out of the home of his ancestors, and his rights usurped by a stranger and a foreigner. He read her thoughts as easily as ho could have read a printed pago, and he proceeded to deepen the impression ho had made by calling up a magnanimous smile to chase the sadness from his face. " I am sure you will find ib a charming home," he added, "and I— hope you will be very, happy there." He bowed with graceful deference to her and turned to leave her, as if his heart were too full to permit of his saying more, just as Mr. and Airs. King, having mado their way through the crowd, were seen approaching. Mr. King looked flushed and anxious. "Have you been annoyed ?" ho inquired, frowning at tho retreating form of her recent companion. "Ob, no; he has been very affable and agreeable," Esther replied. "How did he happen to accost you, dear J' queried Mrs. King. Esther told of the introduction and also related, in substance, the conversation that) had paised between Harold lrvington and' herself. " Really, I do feel like a usurper," she said, in conclusion; "I begin to be afraid that it is not right for mo to have lrvington Manor." " Pshaw! you over-sonsitive little woman! don't , get any such nonsense into your pretty head," returned the barrister, with smiling impatience. "Harold lrvington is a ileop one, and if ho hag managed to imbue you with such sentiments ho has only accomplished just what he intendod to in making your acquaintance. He is a villain, dyed in the wool." " Oh, are you not a tritie severe upon him ?" cried Esther, chidingly. , "Not a bit of it, and, as your legal adviser as well as your friend, I would counsel you to beware of him. But," the man con* tinued, in a lighter tone, " I am not going to have this day spoiled for you by the meddling of such a rogue. Come ! there are several Americans here, and 1 want you to meet some of them. Mr. Phelps, tho American ambassador, and I liavo become quite friendly, and he is waiting to present us to some of his countrymen." He drew Esther's hand within his arm, as ho concluded, and led her toward a group of peoplo on tho opposite side of the room. A moment later she was acknowledging the introduction to the American ambassador, who greeted her with great cordiality, and then presented her to his wife and daughter. They, in turn, introduced her to several other ladies, who, like herself, ware enjoy« ing their first " drawing-room," and their attendants, and whom found to be very delightful company. She had been chatting with them some minutes when she suddenly became conscious of a voice near her chat sounded strangely familiar, and, almost at the same moment, tho ambassador again appeared before her, with a lady upon each arm and followed by a young man about eighteen years of age. "Lady lrvington, allow me to presenb you to some more of your countrymen," he observed, his genial face glowing with pleasure from the belief that he was contributing greatly to Esther's enjoyment, in thus surrounding her with a home atmosphere : " Mrs. Cushman, of Now York city, Miss Cushman, and Master Cushman." ' Esther's heart seemed to cease its pulsations the moment her eyes fell upon the faces comprising this party, but she recovered herself before tho ambassador had finished speaking, and then found herself looking straight into the countenance of the woman who hud tried to make a slave and a drudge of her, some five years previous. , Sho bowed courteously to each, and was quite relieved to find that neither Mrs. Cushman nor Madge appeared to recognise her, although they regarded her curiously, as if there was something about her that was intangibly familiar. " I am charmed to meet Lady lrvington," said Mrs. Cushman, with a bland smile; "but if she is an American, her name surely is not." A spirit of mischief took possession of and inspired Esther to prolong the farce, even though she know that discovery must inevitably follow, for sho caught sight of Frank Cuehman'B look and start of astonish-

raent the moment she had spoken, and felb sure that he had instantly discerned the truth. • " That is true," she politely responded to the matron, "the name is purely English,' nevertheless Amorica is my native land." ■ Evidently Mrs, Cushman now found something suggestive in her tones, for she scrutinised her more closely, while a look of perplexity swept over the face of Madge; whereupon Master Frank giivo vent to a quiet chuckle of enjoyment, and bestowed a knowing smile and nod upon Esthor, with whom he had always been very friendly in the old days. Ho had'known her almost instantly, but how it was possible that the poor, despised nurse and seamstress had become transformed into this titled and brilliantly beautiful lady was more than lie could comprehend. "Ah! then of course you have married an Englishman," Mrs. Cushman resumed. " In what portion of tho United States did you reside before coming to England ?" "My home, during most of my life, w,u in California." "California!" repeated tho matron, with another start, "Mamma, does Lady Irvington make you think of someone whom we used to know ?" Madge here interposed. Sho had been intently studying Esther's face, and had begun to detect startingly familiar lines upon it. "No— don't know—and yet—" the woman began, whon Esther, seeing that a denouement must soon follow, and wishing to save them tho embarrassment of betraying their mortification in the presence of others, interposed with wonderful tact.

"There is an empty sofa," sho remarked, indicating .one near them that had just beonvacated; "suppose weoccupyit while we comparo notes upon homo life. Mr. Cushman, will you act as my escort thither?" sho concluded, turning to Frank, who could have fallen at her feet ' and kissed the hem of her robe for her swecb spirit of charity, and for according to him the honour of acting as her attendant. He sprang to her side and offered hia arm. "Frank 1" she breathed, as she gave it) a friendly squeeze with her white-gloved hand, " I see you know mo, and I cannot tell you how glad I am to see you .once more." "Esther," the boy exclaimed, in a delighted tone, under his breath. "I say you are an out-and-out trump 1 Bub what on earth does it till mean ?" _ " I will tell you presently," sho returned, 'smiling kindly into his perplexed face " but how did you happen to discover my identity so quickly ?" • " By your voice, and that little trick you always had of sweeping up your eyelids In a certain way when you wero startled. Jove ! won't tho madauie and Madge rave when you tell them 1" "Hush I" said Esther, gravely, " that) is why I brought them here, away from tho crowd. I did not wish them to bo made uncomfortable in the presence of strangers." They, had' now reached the sofa, and Esther turned to ask her companions to be seated, when Frank, eager—boy like— tell the wonderful news, blurted out: " Mother! Madgo! how blind ; you are I Don't you know her ? Can't you see it's—" " Frank, how excited you are 1 What are you trying to say?" Mrs. Cushman began, reprovingly, when she stopped and her eyes swept up to Esther's face with a wondering look. .. "V ' : " ' " Mamma,? faltered Madge,, who now comprehended all; "I told you she looked like someone we knew; it is Esthor 1" : •"Impossible!", burst from tho startled woman's lips.. , .. ; • \ ' Yet, even as she spoke, she was convinced of the-truth of her daughter's statement. ([;, She realised, at last, that the wondrousl/ beautiful, elegantly clad girl i; who stood

ges ~s."""gg 1 -iJLSISSS ; < before to; with that ' air jof i refined self possession, bad once been -her/ despised . seamstress and nursery maid. ' > r '> What could it mean ? v How could anyone account > for such a f remarkable . metamorphosis? ' i ;lb waslike ; the transformation ! of the $! :: ogly grub into the gorgeous butterfly, ; ' " Yes," said the fair Lady of Trvingtßn, gently, "lam Esther j but I did nob wish to toll you ■ before those people, "-i ■ • "I should think not, indeed 1" retorted £ the haughty woman, with spiteful asperity, 1 Esther lifted a wondering look to her, t Her only object in making the revelation private had been to save the woman and her children the misery of betraying their chagrin in the presence of tho distinguished people around them, a circumstance which would eurely havo subjected them to unkind criticism, but now the woman's insolent tone and manner showed her that her motives had been entirely misconstrued. Esther Wellington," she went on, with white, set lips, and with a sullen firo in her jyes as they rested upon the regal figure nnd pure, flower-like faco before her, •' what shameless imposture is this? How do I find you masquorading hew, ab ono of Her Majosty's ' drawing-rioras,' under false colours ?" Esther flushed at the woman's over- , bearing tone and manner, bub without losing in the slightest degree her self coutrol, sho quietly returned: "I do not quite understand your allusions to 'imposture' and 'masquerading,' Mrs. Cushman, and I would gladly have spared you this meeting, but sinco it was so unexpected to mo as to yourself, I could only try to cover tho embarrassment which I knew must inevitably follow the revelation of my identity by withdrawing a little from tho crowd until tho first shock of surprise to you should have passed." CHAPTER XXXI. AN ENVIOUS WOMAN REBUKED. While she was speaking Mrs. Cushman tad Madge had stared at her with rude curiosity, mingled with bitterest envy. Her language was choice, her manner ' elegant and refined, showing that sho must have enjoyed the best of educational advantages since leaving them, more than four years previous. Her apparel was of the richest; her jewels of the rarest. They had been quick to observo and acknowledge this, whatevor they mightbelieve regarding her position En lite. " How exceedingly considerate I" mockingly observed Mrs. Cushman when Esther concluded. "How about your own desiro to conceal from the public tho knowledge that you were once a nursemaid?" " Mother! how can you talk so to Esther? lam sure it was very kind of her to wish to save you such a shook," Frank here burst forth in honest indignation, "and I am willing to wager almost any amount that there is no imposture or masquerading about her position. I know Esther, right well, and that she is above deception of any kind." "Thank you, Frank," said Esther, heartily, and bestowing upon him a brilliant smile that brought a quick flush of pleasure to his face. " What you say is true. lam in no false position, here in London," she continued, gravely; "a.id I will tell you, briefly, how I happen to bo here. As you know, after leaving you? house, I went into business for myself, making aprons of various kinds, which I sold to wealthy ladies for their own and their servants' use. In the house where I lodged was a sick gentleman. Ho seemed to be poor and - friendless, and 1 tried to bo kind to him, doing.many little things for his comfort. A couple of days before he died he learned that he had fallen heir to some property, and he then asked me to marry aim, saying that he wished to reward me for my kindness by leaving it to me. I was poor and bomeless, and entirely dependant upon my own efforts for my support. I wanted an education, and, although I did not feel that I was entitled to such reward for my services, the sick man so strenuously urged me to grant his request, I finally consented. But it was not until after I was made his wife that I discovered he was a titled Englishman of great wealth, and thab I should occupy a high position in the world. He had purposely kept those facts from me, lest I should shrink from the responsibilities before me He died about thirty-eight ' hours after the ceremony, and the following Saturday I sailed for England, with Mr, King, his attorney. I immediately entered a good school, where for three years I studied most diligently. To-day I have been presented to the Queen—have made my debut, so to speak, and for the firsb time have been publicly introduced by the name X bear."

"How exceedingly romantic!" sneered Madge, who was consumed with jealousy bo learn that the girl whom she had once so snubbed in her own home was so superior to her in every respect, and occupying a position so far above her own. "And you are really Lady Irvington—a titled lady!" said Frank, who bad listened to her story with absorbing interest, " I suppose I am," replied Esther, smiling at bis eagerness. "And are you very rich, too?" "I am afraid I am," she answered, with ft little sigh. '"Afraid 1' Well, that is a good one What do you mean ?" "I mean that the possession of great wealth seems a heavy responsibility to mo." " And have you a large estate, with a big rent-roll and all that?" eagerly inquired 'be youth. "Yes, there is an estate, and—" "Oh, where? Has ib a high sounding lame!" Esther laughed out musically. "I am afraid, Frank, you are looking for nore romance than there really is connected »ith my story," she said. "My home is ailed Irvingbon Manor, and ib is nob many niles from London." " I suppose ib is very grand." " It is a fine old place, with handsome grounds surrounding the mansion r.nd an extensive park—" / Mrs. Cushman here arose quivering with anger, her face deeply flushed, hf>r eyes blazing. "I have heard quite enough of this romancing," ahe freezingly observed, " and I do not hesitate to say that I do not bolievfi one word of the preposterous story. Of course, Esther, I havo no means of knowing what kind of a life you may have led since you left the shelter of my home and recklessly took your fate into your own hands; but the ides, of an English lord marrying a girl in your position, and elevating her to such a one as you claim to-day, is too absurd for credence. You may have been able to hoax people in this country, by your assumption of the manners and title of a lady, and your lavish display of finery, but you cannot play any such game upon me, Lidy Irvington! Irvington Manor, and a big rent-roll, indeed 1 Faugh ! I'd like to take a peep behind the scenes and know just how all these jewels velvet, and lace are paid for." Esther's face was like sculptured marble —every atom of colour had been driven from it by the unparalleled insult so spitej fully conveyed in the woman's last words. Madge stood by, an ugly sneer curling her lip?, thus showing her to be thoroughly io sympathy with her mother's insolence. But Frank, was crimson with mingled lhame and indignation. "J say, mother, that wan downright cruel (if you—" no bogan, hotly, when he was interrupted by tho sudden appearance of Mr. Humbert King, who, with a menacing look upon ait stern face and in his eagle eye, confronted Mrs. Cushman with a bearing that made her involuntarily cower before him. '"Madame," he said, in ft tone that actually made her flesh creep, "you will be very careful hereafter that you do not repeat tho remarks you have just rnado, in. connection with Lady Irvington." , "Lady Irving ton !" derisively repeated Mrs. Cushman, nettled almost . beyond endurance by the clear, incisive tones and menancing language of Esther's unknown champion ; " that girl a titled lady of 'she realm I" ( "Exactly, madame." " And do you imagine for a moment that I am going to credit such an. impossible; story as sho has just rehearsed to mo?' spiritedly demanded the matron. "Your belief or disbelief cannot a.?ecb i the facts of the case in the slightest degree 1 madame," coolly returned the lawyer. * ■%lj _ Mrs. Cushman began to lose some of her ;Cc excessive colour. . ; ;&'* " Only indisputable proof would serve to convince me of the fact," she.proudly re-., ' torted. ,4'-; ,j , / "And that I can furnish yon with, '$!- ■' madaiae," was the ready reply. ]

t#V To begin with, I; was present at' Miss Wellington's ; marriage !to _ the late Lord Irvington—" "'* *"•' ■ ,s.. "You! and who you?" demanded the woman, insolently. t . For a moment the gentleman's strong, white teeth gleamed brilliantly boneath his silken moustache at this rude interruption. " My name is Humbert King, mailamo. .1 am a barrister, by profession, and recently appointed associate counsel to Her Majesty the Queen," he responded with imparturbable gravity. ' [To be continued.]