LOVE, THE TYRANT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11535, 21 November 1900, Page 3

LOVE, THE TYRANT.

BY CHARLES GARVICE. Author of " The Shadow of Her Life," "A. Heritage of Hate," " Nell of Shorne Mills," "Heart for Heart," "By Devious Ways," " Just A Girl," " On Love's Altar," "Queen Kate," "The Out cast cf the Family," "She , Trusted Him," " Once in a. Life," " Better Than Life," Etc., Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER X. Esther would rather have died than admitted it, but she, like Kate Transom, thought a great deal about Jack Gordon, the foreman of the home farm. There was something about the young fellow which, as she would have put it, " got on her nerves." He was so terribly good-looking, and his deep voice was so musical. And with all his roughness, he seemed so gentle and tender-hearted; see what care he had taken of her in the axe business, and how fond he was of his dog!

But all the same she told herself that she did not approve of him; he was far too rough and brusque. Why, he had almost been rude and disrespectful to her, Miss Esther Vancourt of the Towers; if you please, his mistress. She made up her mind that the next time she met him she would snub him and put him in his proper place. But the worst of it was she had snubbed him more than once, and he didn't seem to care; he had even argued with her and opposed her will; he had almost forced the axe from her hand, she remembered. But, being just—which is strange in a woman— she remembered that he had opposed her for her own good ; and— is a tip for the too complacent young man of the period women who are worth having like being opposed for their own good. . No doubt her thoughts would have dwelt a great deal more upon Jack Gordon but for the presence of Mr. Selby Layton. In these liberal days one gives even the devil his due, and to give Selby Layton his, one must admit that he was an extremely pleasant companion. Esther and Miss Worcester had, if the truth must be told, been rather bored before his arrival. They had been in mourning for Sir Richard, and could neither go out nor entertain; and the vast place, with its innumerable rooms and tremendous surroundings, had weighed upon them rather heavily, and the advent of Mr. Selby Layton, a man about town, had come as a pleasant relief. He talked well, and on all sorts of subjects, many of which were new to Esther; he. sang and played like an angel, and he showed by word and look and gesture his evident desire to win the good graces of the two ladies. He did not confine his attentions to Esther, but directed them to Miss Worcester, with whom he talked Browning and the Palestine Exploration, and for whom he held her skein of wool.

He drove and walked with the ladies, and was always ready to sing and play to them; but, being a remarkably astute young man, he was careful not to inflict much of his presence upon them. He went out for long walks alone: and, as he could take a long walk without going outside the estate, he became fairly familiar with it, and the more he saw of it the more he admired it and longed for it. At night, when the ladies had gone to bed, he sat over whisky and soda and Sir Richard's choice cigars, and plotted and planned, with one sole object in —the possession of Esther and the Vancourt estate and money. Now, as they drove or walked, they accasionally came across Jack Gordon. Sometime he was striding along, sometimes he was riding a half-broken colt, riding it with that perfect ease which is only owned by a Mexican or a backwoodsman. He always raised his hat with marked if cold respect, but Esther, struggling with a blush, vouchsafed him only the coldest of bows, and Selby Layton touched his hat as he would to any inferior.

He knew nothing of Esther's first meeting with Jack, and never spoke of him. To Mr. Selby Layton, astute as he was, Jack Gordon was just the foreman of the home farm, and, gentlemanly and handsome as he was, of no account.

But, charming companion as Selby Layton knew himself to be, the time sometimes hung heavily on Esther's hands. If the truth must be told, she actually missed in this life of luxury and ease the past daily drudgery of music-teaching. One day, while looking listlessly through one of her many wardrobes, she came upon a riding-habit. She had ordered it because her tailor had told her that she would need it, though she had never been on a horse in her life. As she looked at it, she was struck by the idea that the mistress of Vancourt Towers ought to be able to ride, ought very possibly to be able to hunt, and she got out the habit and put it on. There is no costume, which even Worth himself can invent, in which a young and graceful girl looks to better advantage than in a riding-habit. It defines every curve of the figure; its severe lines and colour set off a girl's beauty, if she has any, and Esther was very beautiful. She looked at herself approvingly for a minute or two, then she got back into her morning frock and went down-stairs. Mr. Selby Layton was smoking a cigarette on the terrace, and discussing the las!; library book which Miss Worcester was reading.

Esther went up to them and looked round wistfully. " What a lovely morning for a drive— a ride, Mr. Layton! Do you ride?"

Someone has said, and with a certain amount of truth, that there are two things which an Englishman will always declare he can do —shoot and ride. Selby Layton had only been on a horse two or three times in his life, but he replied, unhesitatingly:

" Oh, yes; delightful exercise riding, isn't it?"

Esther laughed. " I don't know ; I've never been on a horse in my life ; hut I should like to try, and we'll go for a ride, if you're sure you won't be bored by a.beginner." "That would be impossible!" said Selby Lay ton, with his sweet smile. "My dear Esther, pray be careful," implored Miss Worcester, nervously. "It is so easy to meet with an accident, and I am sure that there is not a horse in the stable fit for you to ride. I looked in the other day and they all seemed quite wild; and I saw Giles riding one yesterday, and it wass prancing about like— anything." Selby Lavton smiled a sickly smile; but Esther, who had inherited the Vancourt pluck as well as the Towers, laughed eagerly. "Oh, I daresay Giles will be able to find me something very old and very safe, and I may not hurt myself very nnifh if I do come off. How soon will you be ready, Mr. Layton V" " In five minutes," he replied, with a little bow. " Oh, I shall be half an hour, at least," said Esther. She ran upstairs, calling Marie, and in three quarters of an hour they had got the habit on. She found Mr. Layton in knickerbockers, which was his nearest approach to a riding-suit, and they went down to the stable; he in inward trepidation, Esther with that light-heartedness which is born of ignorance. They found Giles superintending the grooming of a horse by one of the under hands.

"Giles, we are going for a ride," said Esther. "I want quite a safe and sober horse; but you must give Mr. Layton a good one." Selby Layton's heart misgave him, but he smacked his leg with the whip he had taken from the hall and tried to look at his ease. Giles touched his forehead and looked doubtful for a moment, then he led the way to the stables.

" 'Ere's a mare as would suit you, miss," he said. "She's old, but she's steady and sure-footed, and she's been used to carrying a lady. There's no difficulty in fitting you, sir; I'll saddle the chestnut you saw me on yesterday." Selby Layton's heart grew heavier, for when he had seen Giles yesterday the chest-, nut was prancing and rearing in an alarming fashion. Esther went up to the old mare and patted her neck and rubbed her nose. " You must be very good with me," she said, confidentially; because I don't know anything about riding or horses, and if you aren't very careful, my dear, I shall come off."

" There's no fear, miss," said Giles. " Old Polly will carry you right enough, if you don't press too hard on her mouth. Give her her head and she'll carry you like an armchair."

The horse* were saddled with the alacrity with which all the servants of the Towers waited upon their mistress, and Giles stood aside -waiting for Mr. Selby Layton to put Esther in her saddle. It is a very simple performanceif you know all about it. Selby Layton didn't. He made two or three bungling attempts, and then Giles, who had been watching him rather curiously, came forward, showed Esther how to put her foot on his knee and her hand on his shoulder, and tipped her easily into the saddle. " You hold your reins this way, miss, he said. "Hold 'em loosely, and don't fret the old mare." Then he went to Selby Layton who, after many vain attempts, had got into his saddle, and, still eyeing him curiously, said: . ,■:■ "Keep your horse well in hand, sir; don't let Miss Vancourt press the mare." Selby Layton smiled in a would-be superior fashion, and the chestnut sidled out of'the stable courtyard, followed demurely by the mare. Giles looked after them critically and rather doubtfully. " Gentleman don't look much of a 'orseman, Mr. Giles," remarked his second in command.

"Rides like a d d tailor," responded Giles, contemptuously. " Shouldn't wonder if he comes off. But Miss Vancourtjs all right, if she don't curb the mare. P'r'aps I'd better gone with 'em. It's too late now, though." The chestnut was young and, though free from vice, full of frolic. A good rider would have enjoyed his gamesomeness, and would have allowed him to dance around and get rid of his superfluous spirits; but every erratic movement of the horse filled Selby Layton with fear up to his back teeth, and he tried to check him, which only fretted the chestnut and told it plainly that it had an inexperienced horseman on its back. Polly plodded on steadily and methodically, and" Esther, with heightened colour and dancing eyes, which at another time would have aroused Selby Layton's artistic admiration, exclaimed: "How jolly it is, isn't it? I'd no idea riding was so delightful. I shall go in for it; I shall ride every day. How I wish I could ride like you!" • - " Y-e-s," jerked out Selby Layton, with an affectation of ease, but with a sinking at his heart. " Its a delightful exercise, and you'll soon get into it." As he spoke, the chestnut gave a little bound, and he nearly came off. He tuggedat the curb, and the horse rose, amazed at such treatment.

" Your horse seems very fresh," remarked Esther, innocently. " Y-e-s; but he'll .be all right directly," stammered Selby Layton. " I—l haven't ridden for some time. Whoa! Steady; whoa,"

In happy ignorance of her companion's incapacity, Esther rode on gaily, the mare going steadily, the chestnut fidgetting and prancing at the ill-managed curb. They went down the avenue, the pride of so many Vancourts, and got on to the road. Esther rode badly, of course; but the mare's paces were easy and presently she began to get into the rise and fall of the trot; and while Selby Layton jogged and shook beside her, she, on a quieter horse, went pretty comfortablv. At the end of the road they came upon the open common over which she was lady of the manor, and the mare naturally went for the grass in preference to the hard road.

On the hard gravel the chestnut had been fidgetty enough, but, when it felt the springy turf beneath its feet it became more restless and impatient. Esther looked at it.

"I think your horse wants to go, Mr. Layton," she said. " Shall we try a canter or a gallop, or whatever they call it? I think I can stick on; and if I can't it won't matter on this grass." " Praybe careful— dear Miss —Vancourt," he implored, jerkily, the sweat, gathering on his face; but Esther touched her mare with the whip,- and Polly broke into a canter gentle canter, which Esther found delightfully easy. Mr. Layton was anything but enjoying it, but he murmured " yes" and smiled a sickly smile, and tried all he knew to keep the chestnut from breaking into a gallop. It would have been easy enough to do if he had known anything about it; but the more Selby Layton pulled at the curb the more the chestnut chafed and fought for its head, and presently it got away and bounded in front.

Polly, obeying its instinctive desire to keep alongside its stable companion, also took to a gallop. Esther, half amused, half alarmed, tried to pull it up, and, of course, disobeyed Giles' injunction and put the curb on too tightly. Polly looked surprised for a moment, then shook her head impatiently and increased the pace; Esther pulled a little harder, and the mare, who, though she was old was well bred, got puzzled and angry and quickened her stride. The chestnut heard her behind, and tore along at a racing, pace, with Mr. Selby Layton hanging on with white face and trembling limbs. Esther felt as if she were going to fall, but her courage did not fail her. The swift pace, the flying landscape, the beat of the mare's hoofs upon the springy turf, produced a sense of exhilaration ; and though there was a good deal of doubt in her mind there was absolutely no fear.

At the end of the common, the chestnut, which had about enough of it, decided that it would go home, and turned swiftly and sharply in the direction of its beloved stable; its rider being no more able to check it than a fly. Polly swerved, too, and Esther nearly came off; but she gripped the pommel and held on somehow or other, and, to her credit be it said, she laughed at her helplessness. As they went up a hill the horses, which were by no means bolting, though they were going fast, slackened a bit, and a good rider could have got the chestnut in hand easily enough; but Mr. Selby Layton was in a mortal funk, and the chestnut knew it and of course took advantage of it. When they got to the top of the hill the horse rushed forward again, with his stable in his mind, and the mare followed.

'It is not easy for a beginner— he or she always has the luck, whether it be at .cards, billiards, .or riding—to go at full pace down a hill, and Esther found herself swaying in a dangerous fashion. She had got half-way down when she saw a horseman cantering across the fields on her left. Even at that moment she recognised him; it was Jack Cordon, riding the unbroken colt; and even at that moment she noticed, and admired enviously, the ease and grace with which he rode. He pulled up as he saw them, then suddenly he seemed to recognise her danger, for he touched the colt with his heel and bounded forward, and Esther saw him coming towards her like an arrow from abow. He rode at a slant, with the evident intention of heading her; but Esther felt sure he could not reach her, for there was a fairly high hedge between the field and the road. Jack was quite as aware of the hedge as she was, and he was not at all sure that the colt, which was only half bred, would face it; but he held the young thing well in hand, and as they approached the obstacle he drove the spurs in and lifted the cofa with a word of encouragement. It hesitated for a moment, then it rose, cleared the hedge like a bird, and landed Jack within a few paces of the mare. Long ago he had seen that Esther could not ride, and he called out in a voice of command:

" Sit tight, and don't be afraid !" Then he put the colt to its utmost, overtook the mare, and rode beside it for a moment or two before he slid his hand along the mare's bridle and gradually, with perfect ease, brought it to a standstill. Esther jogged and jumped in her saddle, then she looked at Jack, at the man who had rescued her, and laughed with a mingled sense of relief and annoyance. Her hat was on one side, her wonderful hair had half escaped from its coil, her face was flushed, her lips parted, she looked lovely and bewitching enough to stir the pulses of any man; but Jack was not thinking of her beauty but of her audacity, and the risk from which he had saved her.

" That's not the pace to come down a hill," he said, almost roughly. "On an old horse, too. If she'd stumbled, where would you have been?" At another time Esther would certainly have resented this speech and the tone in which it was uttered, but she was too flurried new for resentment.

" On my head, I suppose," she said, with a laugh that quavered in spite of herself. " It's the first time I've been on horseback—"

"So, I should say," Jack broke in. " But why on earth didn't you go with a man who knew the ropes?" " Oh, I was with Mr. Selby Layton, who knows how to ride." she said.

Jack looked after the disappearing chestnut, whose rider was clinging on to its mane like grim death, and smiled grimly. "Oh, does he? It looks like it!" Esther glanced after the vanishing horseman anxiously. . . " Oh, can't he? Do yon think he'll come to any harm?" "No," said Jack, curtly. "His horse is slackening off. He'll take him to the stables safe enough. What on earth possessed you, who can't ride, to go out alone with him?" "I didn't know," said Esther, almost meekly. "Need you hold my bridle?" The mare was fidgetting to rejoin her companion. " Yes," said Jack. " She may bolt, or she mayn't; so I won't chance it. Loosen your reins; you're fretting her. Miss Vancourt, you have been very foolish. You might have had a serious accident. If you wanted to ride, and didn't know anything about it, why didn't you take lessons*" "Whom could I take lessons of?" asked Esther. "I didn't know there was any danger." " I'll teach you," said Jack, thoughtlessly. " Oh, but wouldn't it be a great deal of trouble?" asked Esther, with a mock humility which was lost upon Jack, who was only a mere man. "I daresay," he said-; " but I don't mind Anything's better than that you should risk your neck in this absurd fashion." They had ridden on, and by this time they had reached the home farm. If you have done scolding me, Mr. Gordon," said Esther, with dangerous sweetness, " I'll ride home." "All right," said Jack; " I'll go with you." . ;.■<'..->■;■■■ -•■ vShe said nothing to this; but a3 they reached the lodge, Mrs. Martin came out with Nettie in her arms; and at sight of Jack the child set up a cry of welcome. '. " Here I am, Jack, quite ready," she said. " Can't take you now," said Jack. " Promised to carry her out for a little while," he explained to Esther. She pulled up at once. " You sha'n t break your word. I can ride home all right." " No," said Jack. " It's not far ; you can walk. I won't trust you out of my sight." She tried to look at him haughtily; but somehow or other the look broke down. " Very well, I'll walk," she said. Jack pave the two horses into Georgie's care, and took Nettie in his arms, and he and Esther walked side by side towards the Towers. They were very silent, but Nettie did all the talking that was necessary. • " I thought oo'd never come, Jack," she said, " and I was nearly kying ; but mother said you was sure to come, 'cos she's never known you break your word. How nicely you carry me! Isn't he strong, Miss Vancourt, and isn't he nice? I love Jack; don't you, Miss Vancourt?" The blood suffused Esther's face, but Jack did not seem at all embarrassed. " Little girls should never ask personal questions, Nettie, my child!" he said. "No?" said Nettie. "I'm sorry, but I like you. Jack, and so ought she, 'cos you're good and kind." Jack said nothing to this, but hoisted her into a more comfortable position. They entered the wood, Esther with rather a downcast face, for the child's remark had embarrassed her. " Isn't she heavy?" she asked. "Let me carry her!" " She's like a feather," said Jack. " You're all right-, Nettie, eh?" " Quite comfy," said Nettie. "If oo'll bend your head, Jack, I'll give you a tiss." Jack bent his head and she kissed him. " Wouldn't you like to tiss him too, Miss Vancourt?" said Nettie. "Mother says he saved your life; she saw him catch your horse on the hill." Esther's face flamed. Jack put his hand over the child's mouth. " Shut up, Nettie," he said, quite calmly, "You are talking nonsense." But though he was calm, Esther was trembling, and she glanced at him under her long lashes. Jack did not see the glance; but it was seen and noted by Kate Transom, who, sheltered by a tree, was looking at them. She had been gathering sticks, a bundle of which she held in her hand, and she had drawn out of sight and watched them. She caught the glance, which passed unnoticed by Jack, and it was like a dart piercing her bosom. She shrank behind the tree; her face paled suddenly, and her hand, which held her shawl, gripped at her heart as well. (To be continued on Saturday next.)