The Scotch Heiress.

Otago Witness, Issue 1346, 15 September 1877, Page 20

The Scotch Heiress.

'.& TALE IN THREE' CHAPTERS.

•' •• Chapter 11. . It had been a stormy day — gusts of wind, accompanied by thunder and lightning — when Gertrude stood in the cold, large hall to welcome the travellers alighting at the door. The last fays of a watery summer sunset illuminated but failed to lender cheerful the • bare expanse, so shilling in its magnificence. Gertrude was in her father's arms, clasped to his bosom, and dizzy with emotion, ere she regained'self-command sufiicientto bestow a calm regard on the two female forms beside her : they were those of her father's wife and her father's step-daugh-tor,'the little Aliz. A very young girl, with a profusion of golden ringlets, and largo blue eyes, soft and holy as a Madona's, clung to a lady, whose strong resemblance at once proclaimed her to be little Aliz's mamma. -< '

. Mr Vaughan's bride was still a young woman, and the extreme loveliness of both mother and'daughter was absolutely startling, there was such a- character of sadness about it — such a sweet, pensive melancholy, which in Mrs Vaughan assumed a more serious aspect. Her cheeks were wan, her beautiful lips compressed, ■ and* an expression of suffering dwelt on her brow; but she smiled as Gertrude turned towards her, such' a smile as" Gertrude 'had never beheld before. Few words she spoke ; .but her musical Voice made Gertrude thrill as she placed the hand; of the fairj i trembling Aliz in that of- her new sister. • ' • ; Aliz looked- in to GertrudeJs speaking eyes, and from that moment Gertrude lknew:that Aliz was to -be- her care. '-"My igentle darling,'' she exclaimed, " welcoirio ;to Vaughan'! Mysweet little'sister Aliz, t what a joy you will be to me J " , > "And l -will you not welcome me,' dear • Gertrude?" said her stepmothertimidly, 1 ihereyes'fullof grateful te"ars as she contemplated the-two beautiful creatures. ■ ■ "Ah, 1 mamma/ 1 replied ■• Gertrude, jblushing, "'I had almost forgotten you in , my 'delight to' find such a- sister ; ;but you | are papa's care, 1 Aliz is mine^. 5'5 ' • ■ a ' ' Prophetic "words ! .'Mrs Vaughan folt them to be so, -for -with a heayy sigh she . turned away, and followed her husband ■to the dowager's" 'presence." : There was a terrific scene ; -his aged mother's tears unmanned Mr Vaughan,': arid her u'pbraidirigs cut him ,t6'the heart. . She was his mother, and he- her only child. * She put back his bride with her withered hand, shaking her headland muttering : "The fair face and the oold heart :• cold to my son, but warm to his gold — warm to his gold!" :• .; '„..,' Mrs Vaughan blushed scarlet, and her husband turned ~pa'le, and looked angry. "Mother, what do you mean ? — why do you talk so 1 " he -cried. ; " Why do you not welcome the daughter I have brought you?" ■- - ° " I welcome her !— I welcome her ! Nay, nay, my son ; her fair face won't wheedle. me: she hears me say it too. She'll get none of my gold, neither she nor her bonny daughter Aliz. And you think she loves you, foolish' boy 1 " she exclaimed suddenly; for Mr Vaughan was often a boy with her. " Well, mother, I hope so," hoanswered seriously, at the same time drawing his pale wife to his side, and whispering words which none could hear. But sha turned away weeping ; and his mother cried triumphantly : " She' dares not face you, my son, before me; or declare that she married you for love !" Mrs Vaughan only wept hysterically, and the first seeds of suspicion were so«?n in her husbund's breast. The dowager had <beeu successful beyond her hopes. She watched the pair with a scowling eye, which gradually became more .tame and satisfied. " Ah, my fine bride, we shall see which is the strongest — a mother's influence or yours. I hate you because you have stolen my son's heart from me, bat only for awhile — only for awhile," muttered the dowager to herself as she took an unusually large pinch \bf snuff, tapping her gold box vehemently. , Never once did the second Mrs Vaughan make the slightest effort to obtain the mastery, or even her proper footing at/ Vaughan "Hall. She retired in dismay and terror from the presence of tho irritated dowager ; and her quiet, subdued manner became even more subdued. Well had it been if any land ness and respect on the part of her husband had nerved the poor lady' to sustain her lot. The poison had, however, been infused into Mr Vaughan's ear: it spread and grow ; and at length he became convinced Ihat his melancholy bride had married liini for a home for herself and the child on whom her best affections were centred. She had been very poor, when MrVaughan, struck by her fascinations and beauty, j "made a fool of himself," as Mr Tresham said. The novelty wore off; passion evaporated : and, alas i "'tis an old tale, aud often 'told," Mr Vaughan repented the step he had taken, and wearied of his

| wife.'- She patiently ■ bore' allfthis-harsh-ness and coldness. ' But the more patient' and resigned the wife, the' more over--bearing aDd intolerant became ithe' dowager lady.- As f for ' Gertrude- 6he. was always respectlul arid affectionate to her stepmother*; but she studiously avoided noticing by outward demonstration the line of conduct which her father 'pursued towards the hapless < ladyso rcompletely in his power. Far different was it where Aliz was concerned. Her she. took completely beneath her wing, shielded- her from every blast, • protected her from j blame, and fostered-, the golden-hairetl nursling- even like some rare exotic. • And well did Aliz Lee repay -fair Vaughan'a love and -care — with silent gratitude and. warm affegtion, .yearning tenderness, and fa depth\ of truth and, thoughtfulness far beyond her years.. Early sorrows, privations,, ... and ,!self> denial, together with a most self-deriyingj sweet disposition, and a knpwiedge' { .o i f., that ' ' better , part " , s which sprro sro often teach the young, .had conspired to render. Aliz Lee not undeserving the, high encouiiums so enthusiastically passed upon, her by the generous Gertrude. ' A soft.and. gentle nature,, sensitive arid shrinking to the last degree, seemed to demand a prop: whereon to lean. ; this stay Aliz found; in Gertrude ; and the more'fShe leaned, the more Gertrude loved and \ fostered her." Never had - Gertrude, had-any cine to love before like her .beautiful, winning, little sis,ter Aliz, as she fondly called her. ,What iv comparison to ,this,,pet ,'wajs the curly-, eared spaniel or the cooing doy;esT." £t was a strong human pasaionjCpmpareoi with 1 the poetry of a day-dream'; arid (Gertrude/ who never did anything, ,. by , hajvesj felt that for Aliz Lee she could lay dovvri her life. Mrs Vaughan the^ypung^r 3opk;ed on in silence ; but, a placid smile: might be observed to illuminate her. features as her eyes followed .the movements of , the^two* fair girls — Gertrude with her arms tvyined, round Aliz, whose head rested lp^iugly ori'; the other's shoulder..... It was 'a' string^ ominous smile, and to. those,, verged „in kuch readings^etrayed presages- of, Vhat' was to come. The shadow pf-jdeatii rested on the poor lady : she ralpne'.jSaw-it afar, pif ;,and weary as she t-^ast -^as of.'ihe w'orld^ to her. ,had .brought' notKing'butr disappointment an,d j bitterness, .>sh,e ( was, quite ready to* depart. ; "A^ Jength,* the', jdeath-angel shook his" wings so loudly, that the dim;sighted and dull pf hearing both saw and, heard, ,;, then.^.inieed^tlie, dowager relaxed : her \ persecutions,' the son laid aside/hjs 'cpidnessjfprJa.Bhp^j of— interest -and^-Wriderriess^-ll^uiJthe-sufferer saw through tho flimsy veil ; she jknew she had' no place*at|yjsuMiaTi;Hall, ;and*that they^wefe aware that she would 'soon pass away. In , fwo years the .period' when 'she c'airi'e there as 'a' bride, Mrs Vaughan felt that her end approached, arid, that she 1 must- leave 'thajb^ stately < mansioa no.more, save, for the hist dismal journey. . „..;•, tl . \

! Mrs Vaughan one autumn' eveningiwas stretched, on a couch' beside the 1 caseaterit, •gazing on the fading rainbow' tints 'of th!e .autumnal '"sunset ;' "she was strikingly altered even within the last few hours' ; :there was death in her eyes. She family 'beckoned Gertrude -to' her ;' arid when Gertrude's tears fell' 'thick' and fast;' tljo : dying woman took her hand and whispered •words of comfort., "Do not weep, dear girl ; lam going home, and lam happy. I have not much time, and I. must hasten 'to say all that is passing in\ny heart. It .is about Aliz L would- speaks ; Listen, .Gertrude ! listen ! for in an. hour henceJ shall be beyond that, setting s-ra, beyond human ken, and Aliz will be motherless. Never forsake her,- never leave -her.' To .you I bequeath my child,'my angel-child, who has never caused me one moment's p.ing since her birth, who has been to me •what never child w^'.to mother before. She is yours now, Gertrude.. IH is enough ; I need say no more- ; I mow your noble nature, and I leave 'the world in peace." Mr Vaughan was troubled in conscience i after his second wife's decease, but allowed himself to be soon comforted by his mother | and Mr Tresham. "Vainly~the old lady strove to persuade Heir sdri.' Lto send Aliz away — to school, to' a foreign convent, | anywhere to get rid' of S her ! decently. Vainly, for. Gertrude's strong will overpowered her father's weak one. 'If'Aliz.went, she 'went too j 'and'Gertrudo washer father's pride an<l IJ joy J :' tie could riot .part with her. ' ■ . ' J:! " '"• ' S> x ' *> As Gertrude' atfained'to' woman's estatej* she'cpmpletely^outgre^' those 'outbursts' of temper' which hrtd } once : rendered'" Vaughan Hall anything* "but a seat of! peace, the ' conteriti'oris Between ■ ! the' i dowager 7 an d :; her grafid-d*UTghter fre*- ! quently waxing loudaM turbulent.!. Still* they were opposed to 'each ot ! her^'o\Sp'o3ed- t ih character, disposition;' and action ; biit" with quiet sway Gertrude had by imperceptible degrees asserted her right; arid after her stepmother's 'death she t'6ok"lier place as the Eflt'istress f pf the "household.' : Everywhere her influence was felt-arid'-acknowledged; 'and with* impotent passion" ■ the dethroned old -lady' witnessed '.the' advent of her queenly descendant?: 'Strik-^ I ingly beautiful arid r gracious in d'ep.ort-> I ment the- contrast"-' was 'remarkable be^ [ tween Gertrude- 'V-anghan arid'Al'izLee';--tho latter olingingto'lier stronger friendas some delicate/ tendrils' twine 'around* aha ! - are ' supported "'by-a' rioMe'-stem/ There never was "one who needecWostering* ! aud tending tnore than ihe gentle, 'delicate' orphan ; her health was so frail, - that" Gertrude oft endured intense anxiety as' I she noted the wan cheek arid slight form,' !so like those of her 1 mother. " She" is too. pure, too good 'for this worlu,". sighed Gertrude ; " and* my heart -misgives me that I shall lose my treasure I . tf '■ r [ Five years glided by \ the dowager iri

her tunicas ., gathered, ito, he* fathew ; and tHe 'Cliffords were expected^ a ? t ; ?.St Culhbert's Priory. Mr Clifford's health was perfectly re-established,'; arid /[they were coming,, " home to, settle," wrote Miss Clifford. ,;'./' .' „ J "My darling Aliz-!'? exclaimed $erI tirude with delighted animation, ft how I long to introduce you to these; 'dear •friends ! They are so noble, and? So/superior to all other human beings, that I hope you will' learn to love arid Value :them as I do.*' Aliz said she lio^ed so too. Why was it that the 'remembrance of Mr Tresham's boding words came.'into the heart of Gertrude just theri^;and caused a , pang which' she hated herself for feeling ? ' y 5 " Aliz : Lee work, me mischief ! I'^said Gertrude with a smile : "it is impossible !"