TRISTRAM OF BLENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4366, 25 May 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

TRISTRAM OF BLENT.

AX EPISODE IX THE STORY OP AX' AX Cl EXT HOUSE. (By Anthony Hope.) [AUL EIGHTS STRICTLY RESERVED! (Copyright, 1001, in tho U.S.A. by Anthony Hope.) CHAPTER VII. THE MOMENT DRAWS XEAR. Not knowing your own mind, though generally referred to a.s an intellectual weakness and sometimes as a moral fault, is none the Jess now and then a pleasant .state to live in for a while. There is a richness of possibility about it, a variety of prospects open, a choice of roads each in its own fashion attractive. Besides, you can always toll yourself that it is prudent to look all round tlio question and consider all alternatives. Tho pleasure, like most pleasures, is greater when it comes once in a way to a person unaccustomed to it. Jane Ivor had been brought up to know her own mind; it was the eleventh commandment in tho Ivor household. Ivor entertained the intellectual, his wife tho moral objection to shilly-shallying; their daughter’s training, while conducted with all kindness, had been eminently sensible, and early days had offered few temptations to stray from the path of the obviously desirable. The, case was different now; riches brought a change, tho world revealed its resources, life was spreading oat its diverse wares. Jane was much puzzled as to what she ought to do more than as to what she wanted to dp, most of all as to what she would in the end do —unless indeed tho fact that •sho was puzzled continued to rank as the greatest puzzle of all.

Naturally tlu> puzzles were personified —or tho persons maclo into puzzles. Men became lives to her, as well as individuals —tho Tristram, tho Duplay, tho Broadlcy life; her opinion of the life complicated her feelings towards tho ' person. Tho Trist ram life attracted her strongly, the life of tho great lady; Harry had his fascination, too,.but she did not think that she and Harry would bo very happy together, woman and man. She was doth to let him go, •with all that ho meant, perhaps she Would have been secretly relieved if fate had taken him away from her. Tho Duplay life promised another sort of Joy. Tho Major’s experience was world-wide, his knowledge various, his conversation full of hints of tho unexplored; she would ho broadening her life if, she identified rfc with his. Yet tho Major was an approximate forty (on one side or tho other), in a few years would seem rather old, ami was not even now capable of raising a. very strong sentiment: there, too, sho would be. taking rather tho life than tho man. Lastly, there was that quiet Broadlcy life, to Ixo transformed in somo degree, doubtlass, by her wealth, but likely toTomain in essentials the peaceful,' homely existence which sho knew very wail. It had! little to set against tho riwal prospect!'; yet there was a feeling that in cithei’ of tho other two existences sho would miss something, and that, something .seemed to bo Bob Broadley himself. She vound horsclf thinking, -.in terms superficially repugnant to convention, that slio would like to pay lon g visits to the o\ L hor men, but have .Bob to come home to when she was .inclined for rest anal tranquility. Her jiorplexity was mr.t strange in itself, hut it was strange and now to her; imbued with tho parental views about shillyshallying, sits was angry with horsiolf and inclined .to bo ashamed. Tho excuse she hadi made to Mina Habrlska did not acquit her in her owtn eyes. Yet she was also interested, excited, and pleasantly awake to the importance which her indecision gave her. Judged, from tho outside, she was not open to blame in her attitude towards Harry ; ho was not in lovo with her, and hardly pretended to be. Sho mot him fairly on a friendly footing of business; he was tho sinner in that, while what sho offered wa.s undoubtedly hors, what he proposed to give in return was only precariously his. Nor had Duplay any cause of complaint in being kept waiting; he mould bo hold exceedingly lucky not to be sent to tho right-about instantly. But with Bob.Broadley the matter was different. On tho subtle question of what exactly constitutes “encouragement” (it is the technical term) in these cases it is not, perhaps, necessary to enter; hut false hopes might, no doubt, arise from her visits to Mingham, from her habit of riding up the road by the river about tho time whoa Bob would bo likely to bo riding down it, or of sauntering by tho Pool on the days when ho drove his gig into Bleat mouth on business—all this being beyond and outside legitimate meetings at Fan-holme itself. Unless sho meant to marry him sho might indeed raise hopes that wore false. Yes. but it did not seem as though sho did. Bob was humble. Sho had tyrannised over him even before the Ivors grew so very rich. (They had begun in a small villa.' at Blentmouth —Miss Swinkorton lived there now). It was natural that she should tyrannise still. He saw that sho liked to meet him ; grateful for friendship, he was incredulous of more. His disposition may plead in excuse for her; whatever she did, she would not disappoint a confident hone. But sho was always so glad to see him, and when she was with him, ho wa.s no perplexity, he was only her dear old friend. Well, and one thing besides —a man whom it was rather amusing to try and get a compliment out of, to try and torment into a manifestation of devotion; it was all there; Janie liked to hwo it to the surface sometimes. But Bob was not even visibly miserable : he was always equable, even jolly, with so much to say about his horses and his farm that sentiment did not always secure its fair share of the interview. Janie, not being sentimental either, liked all this even while it affronted her vanity. “Send the gig home and stay and talk.” she commanded, as he stopped by her on tho road—he was returning from Blentmouth to Mingliam and found her strolling by tho Pool. "I want to spoak to you.” He had his bailiff with him—they had been selling a now—and loft him to take the gig homo. He shook hands with frank cordiality. “That’s awfully nice of you,” ho said. “ Wiiat about ?” “Nothing in particular ” said she. “Mayn’t I want it just generally ?” “Oh, well, I thought, you meant there was something special. I’ve sold the cow well, Miss Janie.” ‘•Bother the cow! Why haven’t you been to Fairholme?’’ “Well, in fact, I’m not sure that Mr Tver is death on seeing mo there too often. But I shall turn up all right soon.” ' “Have you been going about anywhere?” •‘No. Been up at Mingham most of the time,"

‘Tsn't. that rather lonely?” ‘•Lonely? Good Heavens, no! I’ve got too much to do.” Janie glanced at him ; what was to be dime with a man who treated provocative suggestions as ■though they were sincere questions'? If he had not cared for he)' now I But she knew ho did. ■•Well, Eve been very dull, anyhow. One never sees anybody Iresh at hairholme now. It’s always oitner Mr Tristram or Major Duplay.” •'Well, I. shouldn't be very fresh either, should It” The names she mentioned drew no sign from him. T don’t count you as a visitor at all—and they are visitors. 1 suppose.” She seemed a little in doubt; yet both the gentlemen, p.toaiiy rate, were not presumably received as members of the family. ‘Til tell you what I’ve been thinking about,” said Bob, speaking slowly, and apparently approaching a momentous announcement.

‘■Yes,' 1 slie said, turning to him with interest, and watching his handsome, open face; it was not a very clever face, but it was a very pleasant one; sho enjoyed looking at it. “I’ve been thinking that I’ll sell the black lior.se, but I can’t make up my mind whether to do it now or keep him through the summer and sell him when hunting begins. I don’t know which would pay mo host.” “That is certainly a very important (picstion,” remarked Janie, with a wealth of sarcasm. “Well, it gives me a lot of trouble, Alisa Janie.” “Docs it? And it doesn’t interest me in tire very—Yes, it does, Bob, very much. I’m -sorry. Of course it does. Only ” “Anything tho matter with you?” Bob inquired, with friendly solicitude. “No—not just now. There never is, somehow, when I’m with you. _ And let’s talk about tho black horse—it’ll bo .soothing. Is the price of oats a factor?” Bob laughed a little, but did not proceed with tho discussion. Thcy_ saun--1 tered on in silence for a few minutes, Bob taking out his tobacco. “Worried, aren’t you?” ho asked, lighting his pipe. “Yes,” sho answered shortly. “Was that what you wanted to say to me ?” “No, of oonr.se not; as if I should talk to you about it.” “Don’t suppose you would, no. Still, wc’rc friends, aren’t we?” “Do you feel friendly to me?” “Friendly! Well !” Ho laughed. “What do you think about it yourself?” bo asked. “Look here, I don’t bother you. but. I’m here when you want me.” “When I want you?' “I mean, if I can do anything for you, or—or advise you, I don’t think I’m a fool, you know.” “I’m really glad to hear you’ve got as far as that,” she remarked, rather tartly. “Your fault, Bob, is not thinking nearly enough of yourself.” “You’ll soon change that, if you say much more,”. His pleasure in her imu plied praise was obvious, but he did not read a single word more into her speech than tho words she uttered. “And you are friendly to me—still?” “It doesn’t make any difference to me whether I see you or not ” “What?” she cried. The next moment she was laughing. “Thanks, Bob, but —but you’ve a funny way of putting things sometimes.” f-jbe laid her hand on his arm for a moment, sighing, “Dear old Bob.’ “Oh, you know what I mean,” ho said, puffing away. His healthy skin had flushed a trifle but that was his only reply to her little caress. “If—if T came to you sonic day and said I’d been a fool, or been made a fool of, and was very unhappy, and—and wanted comforting, would you .still bo nice to me?” His answer came after a puff and a pause. “Well, if you ever get like that, I should recommend you just to try mo for what I’m worth,” he said. Her eyes were fixed on his face, bub ho did not look at her. Some men would have seen in her appeal an opportunity of trying to win from her more than she was giving. The case did not present itself in that tight to Bob Broadloy. Ho did not press his own advantage, ho hardly believed in it ; and ho bad, besides, a vague idea that he would spoil for her the feeling she had ; f he greeted it with too much enthusiasm. What sho wanted was a friend—a solid, possibly a rather stolid, friend; with that commodity ho was prepared to provide her. Any sign of agitation in her ho answered and hoped to quiet by an increased calm in his own manner. The humblest of men have moments of pride. It must be confessed that Bob thought he was behaving not only with proper fooling but also with considerable tact —a tact that was based on knowledge of women. Interviews such as these—and they were not infrequent—formed a rather incongruous background, but also an undeniable relief, to the life Janie was leading at Fairholme. That seemed to have little concern with Bob Broadley and to be engrossed in the struggle between Harry and Duplay. Both men pressed on. Harry had not been scared away. Duplay would win without using liis secret weapon, if ho oould. Each had his manner; Harry’s constrained yet dii’cct; tho Major’s more florid, more expressed in glances, compliments, and attentions. Neither had yet risked tho decisive word. Janie was playing for delay. Tho Major seemed inclined to grant it her. He would make every step firm under him before he took another forward. But Harry grew impatient, was imperious in his calls an her time, and might face her wir.h the demand for an answer any day. She could not explain how it was, but. somehow his conduct seemed lo ho influenced by the progress of Lady Tristram’s illness. She gathered this idea from words he lot fall. Perhaps his mother wanted to see the affair settled before she died. Duplay often spoke of the illness, too; it could have no importance for him at least, she thought. About Harry Tristram, anyhow, .she was right. He was using to its full value his rival’s chivalrous desire to make no movement during Lady Tristram’s lifetime; he reckoned on it and meant to profit by it. The Major had, indeed, conveyed to him that the chivalry bad its limits; even if that were so Harry would be no worse off, and there was the chance that Duplay would not speak. A look of brutal'ty would be given to any action of bis while Lady Tristram lay dying. Harry hoped this aspect of his conduct would frighten him. At least it was worth risking. The doctors talked of two months more; Harry Tristram meant to bo engaged before one of them was out. Could he be married before the second ran its course? Airs Ivor would have scoffed at the idea, and Janie shrank from it. But a dying mother’s appeal would count with almost irresistible strength in such a case, and Harry was sure of being furnished with this aid. He came to Fairholme a day or two after Janie had talked with Bob BroadIcy. She was on the lawn, with her Madame Zabriska and a .small, neat, elderly man. who was introduced to him as Mr Jenkinaou Nceld. Harry

paid little attention to this insignificant person, and gave Mina no more than a carelc-s shake of tho hand and a goodhumoured. amused nod. Ho was not afraid of her any longer. She had done what harm she could. If she did anything more now it wotdd be on bis side. Else why had be shown her Lady Tristram? He claimed Janie and contrived to lead her to some chairs on the other side of the lawn. “And that’s; Mr Harry Tristram?” said Xceld. looking at him intently through bis spectacles. ■'Yes,” said the Imp briefly—she was at the moment rather bored by Air Xceld. “An interesting-looking young man.” “Yes, he’s interesting.” And she added a moment later, “You’re having a "ood look at him. Air Xeckl.” “Dear me, was I staring? I hope not. But —’.veil, we’ve all heard of his mother, .you know.” “I’m afraid tho next thing we. .hear about her will bo tho last.” What she had seen at Blent Hall was in her mind and sho spoke sadly. “Air Tristram will succeed to Ids throne, soon now.” Xceld looked at her as if ho were about to .speak, but he said nothing, and his eyes wandered back to Harry again. “Thc.v’ro friends—Aliss Ivor and ho?” ho asked at last. “Oh, it’s no secret that ho wants to marrv her.” “And does she—?” Alina laugned, not very naturally. “It’s something to be Lady Tristram of Blent.” She smiled to think how much more her words meant to herself than they oould mean to her companion. She would have been amazed to find that Xceld was thinking that sho would not speak so lightly if she knew what ho did. Harry wanted to marry Jone Ivor. With a sudden revulsion of feeling Nceld wished himself far from Blentmouth. However, it was his duty to talk to this sharp little foreign woman, and he meant to try. A few polite questions brought him to the point of inquiring her nationality. “Oh, we’re Swiss, French Swiss. But I was born at Heidelberg. Aly mother lived there after my father died. Aly uncle—who lives with me—Alajor Duplay—is her brother. He was in the Swiss service.” “A pleasant society at Heidelberg, I dare-say?” “Rather dull,” said Alina. It seemed much the same at Blentmouth at the, moment. Ivor strolled out from his study to the lawn. Ho cast a glance towards his daughter and Harry, frowned slightly, and sat down on Alina’s other side. He had a newspaper in his hand, and ho hold it up as ho spoke to Neeld across Alina. “IT'S, it’s to bo out then.” Alina, was delighted at being presented with a topic. Sometimes it is tho most precious of gifts. 6 “Oh, Air Neeld, have you written a book? How’ interesting! What is it? A novel?” “Aly dear Aladame Zabriska!” murmured Neeld, feeling as if he were being made fun of. “And it’s not really my book. I’vo only edited it.” “But that’s just as good,” Alina insisted amiably. “Do tell me what it is ” “Hero you are Alina. There’s the full title and description for yon. There’s nothing else in tho paper.” Iver handed it to her with a stifled yawn. She read, and turned to Neeld with a quick jerk of her head. “Journal and Correspondence of Josiah Oliolclerton!” she repeated. “Oh, but—oh, but—well, that is curious! Why, wo used to know Air Cholderton!” “You knew Mr Cholderton?” said Air Neeld, in mild surprise. Then, with a recollection, he added, “Oh, at Heidelberg, I daresay ? But you must have been a child?” “Yes, I was. Docs he talk about Heidelberg?” “He mentions it once or twice.” In spito of himself Neeld began to feel that he was within measurable distance of getting on to difficult ground. “What fun if he, mentioned me! Oh, but of course he wouldn’t say anything about a child of five.” The slightest start ran through Nceld’s figure. It passed unnoticed. He looked sharply at Alina Zabriska. She wont on, in all innocence this time ; sho had no reason to think that Cholderton had been in possession of any secrets, and if he had, it would not have occurred to her that he would record them. “Ho knew my mother quite well: he used to come and see us. Does ho mention her—Aladame de Kries?” There was a perceptible pause; then Neeld answered primly: “I’m afraid you won’t find your mother’s name mentioned in Air Cholderton’s Journal, Aladame Zabriska.” “How horrid^!-remarked Alina, greatly disappointed; she regarded Mr Neeld with a new interest all the same. They were both struck with this strange coincidence —as it seemed to them —though in fact that they should meet at Blentmouth was not properly a coincidence at all. There was nothing surprising about it. The same cause and similar impulses had brought them both there. The woman who lay dying at Blent and the young man who sat making love under the tree yonder —these and no more far-fetched causes —had brought them both where they were. Alina knew the truth about herself, Neeld about himself: neither knew or guessed it about the other. Hence their wonder and their unreasonable feeling that there was something of a fate bringing them together in that place. “You’re sure he says nothing about us?” sho urged. “You'll not find a word,” he replied, sticking to the form of assertion that salved his conscience. He looked across the lawn again, but Janie and Harry had disappeared amongst the bushes. “You’re sort of acquaintances at second hand, then,” said Iver, smiling. Cfiolderton’s the connecting link.” “He didn’t like me,” remarked Alina. “He used to call me the Imp.'' “Yes, yes,” said Neeld, in absentminded acquiescence. “Yes, the Imp.” “You don't seem much surprised,” cried Alina in mock indignation. “Surprised?” He started more violently. “Oh, yes—l—l—. Of course I’m ” A laugh from his host spared him the effort of further apologies. But ha was a good deal shaken. He had nearly betrayed his knowledge of the Imp.* Indeed, he could not rid himself of the idea that there was a very inquisitive look in Aladame Zabriska’s large eyes. Alina risked one more question, put very carelessly. “I think be must have met Lady Tristram there once or twice. Does he say anything about her?” “Not a word,” said Neeld, grasping the nettle firmly this time. Alina- took another look at him, but ho blinked resolutely behind bis glasses. “Well, it’s just like Mr Cholderton to leave out all the interesting things,” she observed, resignedly. “Only I wonder why you edit his book if it’s like That, you know.”

“Hullo, what’s that?” exclaimed Ivor, suddenly sitting up in his chair. They hoard the sound of a horse’s galloping on the road outside. The noise of the hoofs stopped suddenly. They sat listening. In a minute or two tin; butler led a groom in the Tristram livery on to the lawn. Ho came quickly across to Iver, touching his hat. “Beg pardon, sir, but could I see Mr Tristram? I’ve an important message for him.” . At the same moment Janie and Harry Tristram came out on to the grass. Harry saw the groom, and was with them in a moment, Janie following. “Well, Sam, what is it? You were riding hard.” “Her ladyship has had a relapse, sir, and Dr Fryer ordered mo to ride over and tell you at once. No time to lose, he said, sir.” rj> •told you bring a horse for me?” “No, sir. But I’m riding Quilldrivor.” “I’ll go back on him. You can walk. He turned to the rest. “I must go at once,” he said. “I don’t know what this may mean.” “Not so bad as it -sounds, I hope,” said Iver. “But you’d best bo off at once.” Harry included Alina and Air Neeld in one light nod, and walked briskly toward the gate. Iver and Jane accompanying him. Alina and Neeld wore left together, and sat in silence some moments. “It sounds as if she were dying,” said Alina at last, in a low voice. “Y'es, poor woman!” “I saw her once lately. She was very beautiful. Air Neeld.” “Yes, yes, to her own great trouble, poor tiling!” “You know about ” “Ob, everybody knew, Aladame Zabriska.” “Yes, and now she’s dying!” Sho turned to him, looking him fairly in the face. “And Harry’ll be Tristram of Blent,” she said. “Y'es,” said Neeld. “He’ll he Tristram of Blent.” Both fell into silence again, looking absently at the sunshine playing among tho trees. They were not to share their secret just yet. A link was missing between them still. Harry came to where the horse was, and stood there for a moment, while tho groom altered the stirrups to suit him. ' “It’s the beginning of the end, if not the end l itself, - ' he said. “Our earnest good wishes to her.” “Aly love,” said Janie. Her father glanced quickly at her. Harry jumped into the saddle, waved his hand to them, and started at a gallop for Blent. The groom, with another touch of his hat, trudged off in his master’s track. Jane Iver stood looking as long as Harry was in sight. .“He won’t spare the horse,” said Iver. “Well, he can’t this time; and anyhow he wouldn't, if he wanted' to get there.” She took her father’s arm and pressed it. “Father, Harry Tristram has just asked me to marry him. He said Lady Tristram wanted it settled before—‘before sho died, or ho wouldn’t have spoken so soon.” “When the groom came, I had just told him that I would give him an answer in a week. But now!” She made a gesture with her free hand; it seemed to mean bewilderment. She could not tell what would happen now. (To b 6 Continued on Tuesday.)