A TORN-OUT PAGE. Chapter XI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2287, 30 December 1897, Page 41

A TORN-OUT PAGE.

Chapter XI.

Sy DORA RUSSELL.

Author of "Footprinrs in the Snow," "The • Broken Seal," "On Golden Hinges," "A Fatal Past," "A Bitter* Birthright," "The Last Signal," " The Drift of Fate," " Beneath the Wave," "The Other Bond," "A Man's Privilege," etc., etc.

LCOPYKIGHT."!

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. Chapters I and II. — Isabel Dundas, tlie daughter of Admiral Dundas, is a gay butterfly of fashion, but she has a secret past. She is pestered by the visits of a Spaniard, who drains her of money to supply his needs in order to keep quiet their previous connections. He is so persistent ,in his demands that she resolves to kill him. Meanwhile Sir George Fairfax, a young man, pays her attentions, and unconsciously they fall in love with each other. - Isabel takes a" dagger from a drawer with the intention of killing her persecutor, and goes to th« wood to meet him, but she is horrified as well as relieved to find that he has been already stabbed. Rtturninp, she is met next day by Mrs Watkins, the cook, who hints that. Isabel has been concerned about the death of the man found in the woods. She adds that for a cousideration it need never be mentioned out ojE the household. " Oh," groaned Isabel after the woman had left her, " is it never to end ? "

Chapters 111 and IV.— Mrs Winchelsea, a wily widow, sets her cap at Sir George, but fails to captivate him, and he offers his hand and for tune to Isabel, who accepts him. After the marriage the cook has to be bribed, and then a man who claims to be the dead Spaniard's brother appears and claims hush money from the distracted woman. She refuses just as her husband's foot is heard approaching.

Chapters V and VI — Isabel is again pestered with applications for money from Sebastian Lopez, and she resolves to flee from her home. She does so, and then writes to her husband relating her early life, how she was compelled to niarry in hei girlhood Pedro Lop z, who subsequently hampers her with his presence. She also tells him about findiug the dead body of her husband, and her subsequent troubles through the blackmailing of Pedro's brother and her maid. She is met by an artist, Mr Faval, who wishes to paint her portrait, and she consents, for the cake of the fee of j£SO, of which she is in need.

Chapters VII and VITI. — Faval informs Isabel that the picture, "'ihe Gipsy Queen," has been bought by Sir George Fait fax, and from her manner he judges that he is her husband. One afternoon, as she goes out for a walk, she is suddenly seized and gagged, and taken by Lopez for the sake of ransom. She is taken in the course of a day or two in a boat to some distant place beyond the sea. In the uieantime 3?aval communicates with Sir Gtorge Fairfax, and a search is resolved upon.

Chapters IX and -X.— Sebastian Lopez suggests to Tsabel that she hhall send to her husband for a vau-oni (£1000), which she indignantly refuses to do. The story then refers to the family of the Featherslone», the Admiral proposing for the hand of Kitty, and an offer of marriage being received for Jane from Mr Temperley.

Mr Temperley. N the utmost astonishment and surprise Mrs Featherstone repeated : " From Mr Temperley ? You don't mean Mr Temperley, of Temperley Paik 1" " I do," said the vicar, his mild triumph deepening. " I can scarcely believe it," said Mrs Featherstone.

"Well, I will read you the letter, my dear," said the vicar, taking eff his spectacles and rubbiDg them, and then returning them to his well-shaped nose.

My Dear Featherstone,— This letter will probably be a surprisi to you, but I hope on consideration it won't bs disagreeable to you. I have not forgotten our old acquaintance at college, and I have ever held your character in high esteem. [The vicar had not been without his eaily ambitions, but his marriage with a poor curate's penniless daughter had ended these,' though ho had never regretted his marriage ] You wiU have heard probably that last year I lost my poor wife. " She died suddenly of consumption, after a wasting acd liageriug illness", and her constant anxiety was for her three little gills, one of whom was born blind. We saw your daughter, Mi«s> Jane Featherstone, at a child's school or fete, and we were both im-pres-ed by the kindness she displayed to the little children. " I wish we could have her with us, I'm sure," my poor wife said ; and I remembered these words lately. May I be permitted to come over and see hct "? I come meaning to ask her to be my wife, if she will honour me by accepting me, and of course I am prepared, at an honourable, middle-aged man, to make proper settlements on a young girl. However, all this rests in the futurs. Only, 1 would no; veutuie to address her without first askiDE your ODinion aud advice. Ma.v I call

any early day that you will kindly name?— l remain, my dear Featherstone, yours very sincerely,

— Ralph Temperley.

Thß vicar read these words with some justifiable pride, and Mrs Featherstone was fairly overcome by them. Tears rushed into her eyes ; again she grasped her husband's hand.

" Ob, John, this is almost too much," she said.

" Nothing is too much that is for our good," be answered gently ; " but I want you, my dear, to go and tell Jane, and then bring her down to me."

" May I take tbe'letter ? " said Mrs Featherstone.

" OertaiDly," replied the vicar ; and armed with Mr Temperley's letter she returned to her own room, whence she bad been summoned.

■ Jane was sitting there, hemming some coarse towels for her mother. She had borne the disappointment about the Admiral very well. After all, Kitty seemed quite happy, thought the amiable Jane, and there was one of them provided with a good home at all events. So when her mother came into the room with signs o! agitation in her face and recent tears round her eyes Jane looked up' surprised.

" What is the matter, mother?" she said. " Is there anything the matter 1"' , " Your father has had a letter about you," went on Mrs Featherstone with " increasing " agitation.

" What have they to say about me ? " asked Jane.

" Nothing, you may be sure, but what is good," answered Mrs Featherstone with becoming- pride. "Jane, my dear, do you remember meetitfg Mr and Mra Temperley, of Temperley Park, at the Springhaven fete for children, now more than a year ago ? "

"I remember meetirg them perfectly," answered Jane. "Heis a fine-looking man. I remember he told me he had known father." " WelJ, he has written to father about you, dear, this morning."

Jane instantly made a guess.

"He wants me to go to look after the children ? " she said. " Well, it wouldn't be a bad idea."

•' It is not quite that he wants you to do," answered Mrs Featherstone. " Bat read the letter yourself."

Jane took up the letter, but as she went on with its contents her face flashed deeply.

" Why, mother," she said, "he never can mean this ! "

" He would not have written to your father unless he had meant it, my dear, answered Mrs Featherstone. Again Jane read the letter. "And what is father going to say?" she atk*d, after a few momenta' siienca.

" What could anyone say in answer to such a letter ? " replied Mrs Featherstone. " But he wishes to see you about it before he writes. • Will you come now? "

Jane went down to her father's library with' a new feeling of ehyness in her heart. The; vicar, however, made do pretence to hide hi* emotion. He rose at; her entrance, took her 1 in bis arms, and kissed her forehead.

" My dear," he said, " this letter has made me very happy. Ralph Temperley is a man in a thonsand."

" He seemed a very kind man," answered Jane.

" And when shall I ask him to come 1 " inquired the vicar.

They settled on the day, and then Jane went back again to the hemming of her coarse towels. She took one on her knee, but she did not hem it. She sat think- j ing of this strange turn of fate. She knew j that Mr Temperley was a very rich man, that i he had fine estates and was altogether in a totally different position in life from themselves. " And that he should have thought of poor little me I " reflected Jane. She who had neither beauty, nor money, nor position I Only her kindness to the little children on a distant fete day I It seemed like a dream, and the unusually quiet Jane Featberstone was completely upset by it. Mrs Featherstone's spirits, however, rose to the occasion. She could not help boaßting a little unmercifully to the Admiral when he called in the afternoon. "Well, I'm sure I'm heartily glad, madam," he answered. - " I know Temperley. He's a nice fellow, and will, I am sure, do hie best to make Jane happy." Mr Temperley came on the day appointed, and it was impossible not to like him. He was a tall, dark, gentlemanly-looking man, i of some 54 or 55 years, with an easy dignified manner, and he almost immediately put Jane at her ease. ! " I remember yon perfectly, Miss Featherstone," he said. " t have heard my daughter mention you," said Mrs Featherstone with a total want of tact, which, however, Mr Temperley naturally overlooked.

Presently the parents went out of the room, and the two were left together.

" You know why I have come, Miss Featherstone 1 " said Mr Temperley.

" My father showed me your letter," answered Jane with falteriog tongue.

" Every word in that letter was in earnest," went on Mr Temperley. " But do not make this burdensome to you ; taka time to consider ; but, believe me, I will do my best to try to make you happy." " I am sure you will do your best to make everyone happy," said Jane gratefully.

And then he changed the conversation. He talked to her of books and pictures, and amused and interested her mind. Jane was quick in intuition, and caught up the ideas of those around her.

" I must take you to the picture galleriep, Jane," he said to her presently. " That is, if you will allow me. Some of the foreign picture galleries are wonderful." And then he spoke to her of the different schools of art. He was a connoisseur in all these thingp, of which she had only heard, as it were, from a distance. But he did not oppress her with his knowledge. They parted mutually pleased with each other. Mr Temperley's last words were considerate and kind."

"If you can," he said, " will you give me your answer to-morrow ? But remember, only with every consideration for your feelings ; and then, if that answer is favourable, you must come over and see my little girls." "I am most interested in the little blind

■ - ' -. • - ' one," said Jane softly, "And Mr Temperley! felt he understood that this was actually the ' case. After he was gone the whole family rushed in to congratulate Jane. "He's such a handsome man I" Mm Featherstone said. 11 He makes us all look very small beside him," said Phoebe, the younger girl. There was, in fact, a general air of hilarity in the family. Only Jane was very quiet. It seemed such a great change to her, this step in life— from poverty to wealth, from a poor position to a good one. The next day he came acoording to his promise to receive her answer, and Jane was ready with it. " Well," he said, smiling, and taking her hand, "have you made up your mind to marry an old man ? " "No," said Jane gaily, "I've not. But you're not an old man." This answer pleased him. Ha bagan to perceive that Jane had a ready wit and humour, and tbat when she had seen a little more of the world Bhe would understand it better. " Then you've made up your mmdi " he again asked. . . : . «• Yes," said Jane softly, and Mr Tempjerley took her in his arms ana kissed her forehead. " We will see the picture galleries together now," he said, smiling-. "Bat the children?" gala Jane. «*Tha little blind one — how could we leave her ? '? " She can go with us," he answered ; and Jane thought what it was to be rich. Every whim, every pleasure, could be indulged. He did not leave without inviting Jane and her father and mother to go over *tne following day to Temperloy to see his little . girls. •' You would like to see them best by yourself — alone— first," he said to Jane. Arid Jane understood the delicacy of this proposal. She therefore went with her father and mother the next day to Temperley. But even she had never expected to see such a place as this. It was a typical English country boriSe, standing in its wide park amid the green arcades of holly and laurel — a beautiful spot ; one to be proud of. And the interior was equally imposing and striking. The late Mra Temperley had been a woman of taste, and she had spent, her ample wealth well. There was evidence of this in everything around, and Jane bad never - seen or even heard of euch furnishing before. And she was to ba mistress of all this I she thought. But presently, when Mr Temperley brought in the little girl?, she forgot the furniture. They were 'all pretty, fair-haired children; but. the youngest— the blind one — would have been- beautiful but for the »ad misfortune which had been her birthright. , " She Is Jane,- too," said Mr Temperley. ' - "Mumray alway* called mo Janey," said the little girl. " Than I must call you Janey," said Jane. She waa a .sweet; mild little girl, gentle and confiding, and. Jane acd Bhe Boon were excellent friends.' "She's the dearest ohild," »he told her father ; and these words were grateful to Mr Temperley's ears. Hs felt indeed that he had made a good choice whec. he chone Jane Featberstooe, and the more he saw o£ ' the more he was convinced of this. " You know my mother i» in heaven," went on little Janey. "She said I had to go there." The kind-hearted Ticar was touched by the blind child's innocent prattle. " All good people go to heaven, don'fc they ? " went on little Janey ; " and mothe..' was very good."

She weut out into the. garden with them, still holding Jane Featheretone's hand. In fact she seemed loth to part with her for a moment.

" You're a nice lady," ehe said, " and 1 like 'ota."

"You must not tease Miss Featherstone, my dear," said Mr Temperley.

" Oh, I'm not," eaid little Janay.

It was strange how children took to Jane Featherstone. She became their friend ar it were ; and the kindly sympathies of hey nature were, ever ready to expand and enlarge under their pleasures and joys.

Altogether this" firat visit to Mr Temperley was a very happy one. Jane soon forgot the big house and the rich surroundings. ; V We get jised to everything," she said to her 'mother, smiling, as they drove" home ia one of the Squire's carriages. * •■ - ' ~ " Yea,- my dear," answered Mrs Featheiv stone, smiling-,. " but .it'j3 much more agree* able to get used to riches than poverty." They found the Admiral and Kitty awaiting their arrival at the vicarage, and both were eager to kmow how this first visit had gone off, and pleased to hear of its success. Mrs Featherstone brought a formal invitation from Mr Temperley* to the Admiral and Kitty and the other two young ladies to have lunch with him at Temperley a day or two later, which invitation waß delightedly accepted. They all felt in fact that Jane had done wonderfully well for herself, and remembered her unselfish kindness in the years that had gone by. The short time passed very quietly, but happily. It stole out in the village of Fairfax that two of the Miss Featherstones were engaged, and it must be admitted that in the small community some heard this with secret envy. But Jane bore herself very quietly and so did Kitty. Mr Temperley began to think that the time of courtship might as well be coming to "a close. He therefore suggested to Mra Featherstone something about the wedding day. Poor Mrs Featherstone was divided between her delight and the anxiety of a wedding breakfast. " We must have one, I suppose," she said to her husband, "Yes, we must have one," answered the vicar; but he now had no anxiety on the subject. His generous future son-in-law had set his mind at rest on the point, and placed a £50-note in his hand. In vain the vicar refused.

" Nonsense ! Nonsense, my dear fellow," he said. •* We all know that poor parsons have no money to waßte on entertainment. Mrs Featherstone naturally wishes for a wedding breakfast for her eldest daughter, and you must let me provide for ifc."

Thus, when lira Featherstone began to worry abont the projected expense, th&

vicar retired to his desk and produced £20 In fresh £5 notes. " Tnere," he said, " will that do for you 1 " «She did not know he had £20 in the world. She felt partly injured that he should have hidden this money away from his faithful wife and partly delighted at . the result of his economy. " We can have a beautiful breakfast on this," fhe said. "We can have everybody that we want to have, and we will show the spiteful people what we can do." "You had better have both marriages on one day," suggested the vicar, laughing. •• I've thought o! that," said Mrs Featherstone ; " but, you see, the Admiral isn't so easy to manage." " Kitty seems to be able to manage him," said the vicar. " That's juet an old man's folly for a young girl," replied Mrs Featherstone. Bat when the idea was suggested to the Admiral, be did not seem averse to it. In fact, he was rather proud of Jane's engagement to Mr Temperley. 11 Have you not one for Prissy, too 1 " he asked, smilirig facetiously. " Now, you mustn't have any moro jokes, Admiral," said Mrs, Featherstone. However, it was finally agreed- that the double wedding had to be on one day,, and ■ such an event in the little village of Faipfax' had never been heard of before.