" But he was not offended with you

Otago Witness, Issue 570, 1 November 1862, Page 8

" But he was not offended with you

"Oh dpnr, no. He said he could hardly expect me to take a dWcrent view, and considfied himself, presumptuous to entertain the idea. I heartily wish it hul never happened. I em Id say No tohalf-a-dozeu young nuppies without the s!iphe-.t compunction, but such a man as this Neville — co f.mnil it!" And the Major sought eonsolationi a cheroot.

Morning li^ht fount 1 . Edward Neville nvmy miles fro'ii Kurrackpore, and Claia, who was fast learning to rc r "r ovevybhUn to Jii, 0,/inhu — *"» me'isiire every il.iv'*, enjoy >nont by the time be had spent in her company —to find the society of other men a burden i:i contract to his refined and gentlemanly attentions — when she heard of his sudden departure, without a word of farewell, felt that, a cloud had faden over her spirit vvhich sh>' could not sluko oiF. Her imients gupo«ed nothing of all this. Mie »icw pale and INtle-«, and they thought th t the eli.n.ite was already hymning to tell upon her. aud trembled for her future health. Mrs Stanley had already divined the cau^e, and slie, too, wondered greatly at Neville's conduct.

their child's cood, the Major and Mrs Vimace ruined her happiness by the very means they took to. secure it Had they only told her of, MiNeville's attachment, she would, in all probability, have acqui-sjcd quietly in their decision, living in secret on the thought of being lo\ed by one whomshi' deeine I&o noble and wise. But, as it was, she was utterly distressed and peiplexcd— distressed on the one hand that she hail been betrayed into anything so unwomanly ;is to lose her adeciions to one who did notseek them— -bitterly disappointed on the other hand that her hero should prove himself less woithy of t!ic reverence she had felt. Ei! her she had been' forward, or he had been tiiflinc;, and both wereequailv haul to believe. Did he think of boras a mere chik'l ) T, en why had he paid her such deference ! Why had he shown such deep inteie-t in all she said and did ] A mere acquaintance would have called to say stood- bye. k friend would u^vcr have tivalel her so. Thus tioubled and perplexed, her heilth g.ive way, and though she stiujio led hard to maintain her' usual cheerfulness, and to ba all thai; her parents wi-hed, still every one could perceive a change. The Major and Mis Vinrace, fearing that she o nil 1 not stain I a hot reason, had already "determined that she should return fo England, and remain under the care of the aunt who had brought her up, and it was arranged that she should travel under the care of Mr and Mis Grove, vho were going home ou furlough. Shew is spending a few days with Mrs Stanley for the last time, as she expected to leave for Calcutta in a few weeks.

They were sitting- quietly hsrefchcr when Mr Stanley rushed in an excited stale : " Frank, what is ihe matter } ' cried his vife, *' I have had dieadt'ul news : pojr Neville h.is been nearly murdired in his bed."

"' llonible," erie 1 Mrs Stanley, as s-he instinctively ru3hed to Clara, who looked so ghastly white that she expected to see har f u'ut away, hut she sat still and speechless as a stitue. Mr; Sranly went on "The wo; st of it is, he is quite alone, without a European near him, ami there is not a moment's dependence to be placed ou those dastardly native 1 ?. I piopo^e ttikiiiji 1 our doctor innnr"]i;uel*b and goinpr to him myself. The matter rnu^t be i iquiml into without delay. The C^minis-iionei' agrees with me, and will send a military guaid at once." " I will go witlfyou, b'rank." " Well, perhaps it will be best. I have given orders for a dawk to he kid, cud i\e wi'l s'ait at once.*'

A me-suiger «a.s despatched to the barracks, and Mis Vimaae came to fetch her daughter. She was shocked at the im,elli»one<s and still more shocked at the effect ii seemrd to have upon Clara, and she took the opportunity of speaking to Mis Stanley about Irr. ln_the fulness ot her hcai fc sin told her about Mrs iVuiille's unfortunate r«jtction. " Ah, I see it all," Mrs dt inlcy said. " This was the cause ofhib leaving so abruptly, and now he has been fxpodnu; hi;n«elf to dangers, and drawing ou hints-elf theauimcKby of these treacherous native-. Frank is determined to bift it to the bottom, bub the in-st lhi n n to be thought ofi<; his recovery," and then she a-.'ded, '• t\t Haia's s, t ke."

" What do you mem Mrs Stanley J" "I mean tint this attachment, and not the climate, his made Clara ill. It had stouc unite too far to le cured h\ sending- Mr Neville away, and I mean that if he reeo* cis, I fur one will leave no stone unturnel to brinj; them together again," My dca' - , I call all such disproportionate mavlia^es a mue saciifioe."

Oh ! Mrs Vinrace, would you sacrifice your daughter s health and happiness, and perhaps life, to tins idea ] In most ca><es 1 think you are right, but this is quite a:i exceptional one." There was time for no more ; a parting embrace between the friends, a whispered entreaty from Clara, "you will write and tell me," and Mrs Yiurace took her daughter away. The .Stanleys reached D in about ten hours, and they found Mr Neville still living, but in a very low state after the fearful event uf the night before. All the partici;lnr& they could learn about, the crime were, that Mr Neville awaked from a swoon, as it is supposed, to find himself frightfully wounded in the head. He had juststiength left to call his servants, when he a,'ain fell into au unconsious .state, which Listed fur some hours. The murderer had apparently come in the early morning. The wound muse haw been inflicted by a hatchet or a sword, and then the wretches must 'have left their victim for dead. The wonder is that the blow was not immediately fatal. For many days the danger appoarel to he imminent, and vory slender hopes ot his recovery could Mis Stanley hold out in liv- first note to lur fiiend. But by degrees, through the doatoi's skill, and the constant caie and attention of his fi leads. a-id the peifecfc stillness and qnkt enforced, he appeared to rally ; f ivorable symptoms showed them>el\es, and hopes of hi h complete restoration bewin to be entertained. Mr and Mrs Stanley remained in his place, and as soon a^ he was able to travel, h-> was to proceed to Calcutta, and thence to England. Not for some time after conversation was allowed him had he ventured on the name of Vinraeo • but at length, finding that Mrs Stanley had discovered ins secret, he sought her wo uauiy sympathy and counsel. Bhe would not, for anything, betray Cl.ua, y.'.t she managed to give him <ome gleam of hope, and he determined, should his health be fully restored, to try again.

The 'ast bo it had jmt off from tlu Peninsular and Oriental Company's sfc unship Vectis, Imariii" 1 Major Vinrace back to the pier, and the emrinps had already begun to v, oik ; but though th<> air wa? sultry, anil the sim was (Jlaia would not leave tire vi ssel's w 1c till her .straining- eyes could no longer eatyli sight ot her father's form. She stood aUernate'y waving her handkerchief ami wiping away her tears, regardless of Mrs (xiove's entreaties that she would come away into the shade. At length, as the town began to bok is.distinct and dim, her hand was gently taken, and a voice whose very toue thrii'ed through her, sai I :

" Miss Vinrace, I cannot let you remain here any longer ; you must positively come with me." She looked up in utter astonishment, and her e^es met Hie deep earnest gaze of Mr Neville, .nul rested on his p ile and emaciated countenance. She could hardly stammer out a word of greeting. ''Yes," hesidd kindly, in ansH-eV to her looks, "I aw enough to IViuhten you ; I am going to Xii" land to recruit, and then I hope r shall look soinctluujr better than a skeleton. I have to thank the villains for leaving my face alone; as it is I shtll carry a scir to my grave, but it is fortunately out or sight."

He led her to Mr and Mrs Grove, who were dolightcd to find he was a fellow- voyager, and wondered what chance had brought them together. Mr Neville explained that ho had met Mi.jor Vim ace a few days befoie, and had some conversation with him, and discovered to his pleasure that they were going in tho vessel he had fixed upou—thfit he had come on board some liouis earlier than they di 1, and had purposely kept below that he mig-ht uot embai i'ji«s fhc moment ot parting by his presence. He talked with all his old grace aud animation, answering all Mr and airs Grove's inquiries about hi.* accident and ilhuss about the unsuccessful efforts of " that ii.compwable fellow Stanley," to di»eo\er the perpetrator of the crime and a hundred other topics of interest common to to them all ; and so the day wore on. Clara retired to rest that night with a lighter -heart lhan she had Known for many a day ; with an undefined sense of liappmpss which she would not stop to analyse. She ouly felt that he was the same to her, aud thai this voyage looked forward to with such mwupportable dreariness, would he brightened by the companionship she hal feaied to lo^e for ever. She had consented to everything that her parents proposed for her, aiid was v. illiug to slay iv England as long as they wished ; for, with her present feelings, all paces were alike to her. But she had frit acutely the parting with her parents, and with Mrs Stanley, whom she might never see again, so changing and varied are the vicissitudes of Indian life.

They had a calm and pleasant voyage. Day after day slipped away in agreeable monotony. Mr Neville and Clara were thrown much together. One day she was seated quietly on deck, watching the wave 3 and the sea-birds, when be came to her, and placin" bimselt by her side, " JWiss Vinracc," be said, " voti have never asked me why I left Kurrookpore so abiuptly; you have never given me one reproachful word for my apparent neglect. Will you hear me patiently if I tell you all about it V Clara answered him with a look, and he went on : I called on your father shortly after our excursion to the Chilkn Lake, and told him— nay, Clara, do not turn nway— l told him theu of the depth of my attachment to you. He answered—how could I expect otherwise '?— that the disparity of years between us made it quite impossible for him to consent, and begged of me to think of it no more. I promised I would pursue the subject no further, for 1 feared that you, too, would bouslonWied at my presumption, and tint, perhaps after all, you looked on me more in the li«ht ot a father than v lover. 1 could not trust myself to see you once more,_ and to bid you good bye as a stranger, so I hurried the arrangements for my journey, and went off at once. You know what happened next. As I lay between life and death your image was constantly before me, and I karat that love for

you had indeed become part of my be ; n». On my recovery I determined I would make one more effort to win you _ lVri I learnt lo my grief that your health wa-. impaired, and tlmt you were also about to leave the country. ] followed you and your father to Calcutta, and succeeded in meeting with him a f<-y; days ago, as he was taking your passage in the "V pu\as. He received me very ordially, came to see me at my hotel, and once more gave me a patient lieadna 1 . At last he consented to my speaking- to you, and told me, ii' I could win your love, his objections shorn" Ibe quite withdrawn. He gaye me this for you — " nnd Mr Neville diew out of his pocket book a note, which lie placed in Clara's trembliuff bands. It ran thns>:

"Mv Child,— Let your own heart choose. If you love him, say yes ; aud God bless you. " Your iiffectionato Father."

She sat lookinp at it some ruoineuts, and twL-tiii2 it in her fingers, while her color came and vent. " And now," said Mr Newlle, ''I wait my answer. II you can fdve your happiness into my keeping, I will take it as a sicred trust. If you cannot love ni", say m frankly. To-morrow we to.ick at Point ie Galle, I will st'iy th<?re and wait for the next steimer, that you may n t bs emb.u-rased by my presence for the rest of the journey." She pointed to her father's note in answer — "My hf>:irt- has chosen,'' she murmured ; and hhe smiled at him thioiiKh gathering tears. fck> he was not left behind in Ceylon, and when, six mouths af'fvT'.vards, they mode the same journey together, it was as Mr and Mrs Edward Neville.