LITERATURE.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 47, 13 June 1889, Page 4

LITERATURE.

COMEDY AKD TRAGEDY. CHAPTER XV. A f eiiny for our -houghts, Mrs Mortimer. Lance had just carried his patient up to hj r room again that same night : and on returning found Aldyth standing pensively in one of tho windows, gazing out, posed, he was sure, by her ra'her too studied atti tmie and exaggerated start. Oh, how quick yon have been, Mr Darrell ; and my thoughts were not worth much, I'm afraid, looking down with a sigh, Then they ,vere not of yourself, I’m sure, said Lance, ben Trig down a little, but there was a very wicked sparkle in his blight eyes, that Frank would have known meant mischief,

Oh. Air Darrell, you’haven’t forgotten to flitter ; your tongue will never, in that respect, be like “ Toledo trusty. For want of using grown rusty.”

But I was thinking of myself—at least, partly, she hesitated and blushed ; some women can get tip a blush at will, just as they can turn cu tears. And partly.? said Darrell. Oh—of—of the present, partly, she said, confusedly, glancing quickly up, tin n down, and the past. It doesn’t mutter, it is nothing, Nothing always something, said Lance, throwing out another grappling iron, and anything that troubles you must matter to me, dear Mrs Mortimer. To y u ! She turned eagerly, then drew back again, reddening ; Ah, no—no ; you are kind, generous to say so. You don’t believe me 1 began Lance, impetuously, then stopped, biting his lip, as if angry with himself; ball! forgive my audacity. I forget too readily tha< my position is quite changed. She suddenly lifted her eyes, clenching one ham 1 on her dress, and looked at him full—such a look flashed upon him like tho lightning that scathes and staggers a man —held, free, a'l the woman’s undisguised passion in its swift glance ; she dropped it directly, a burning blush overspreading her cheeks as she turned aside, saying hurriedly ; There is nothing to forgive ; and what matter the casket if the jewel is the same ?

Startled, pained, utterly surprised, and ashamed for her though he was by the revelation forced upon him, Lance Darrell was not the man to lose for a moment his r<*ady presence of mind, and in anyway rusnare himself or be ensnared ; he saw at once what a powerful weapon the woman’s passion placed in his hand, but he saw aa instantly that, to sde it, and apparently yield to it now by word or look, would be a fatal error. He must be blind, as those are who will not see.

Ah I he said, lightly, now it is you who are too kindly flattering, Mrs Mortimer ; and the jewel, such as it is, is very full of flaws ; it wants back its golden casket, for one thing. There arc ways of getting a new fortune perhaps, said Aldytli, with a half laugh—not a pleasant one—and a shrug, bat still not facing him ; for some folks at any rate, if they are not too scrupulous, I wish anyone would suggest a way, then, by Jove! said Lance, carelessly, as if between j st and earnest, but covertly watching her as tie spoke, Ha saw her turn and look furtively towards him, as if cautiously measuring how far further she dared tread on the ground she believed before her; and he saw the hard, fierce glint of triumph that gleamed in the china-blue eyes. Well, perhaps some day I may suggest a road to fortune, she said, jestingly ; we are in tho same boat in that respect, Mr Darrell. Then, with a changed manner, she said, anxiously : Tell me, now, if you can, after only a fortnight hero, what you think of ray darling Coral’s health. T have had such dre..dful fears that I hardly dare t® ask you even now. Now again was clever Lance’s opportunity, and he seized it at once with a coni boldness that carried one outpost by storm.

Ha laid bis hand on her shoulder, and said, in a deep, suppressed tone : What is it you fear, that you have not told me yet ?

I have fancied sometimes—l have feared that all that waywardness—oh, Mr Darrell is the precious child’s brain unsettled ? she said, looking piteously up in his face. What a perfect ‘ diablesse ’ she was! This, then, was one of her schemes ; and if in that moment Lance could have followed the fierce impulse of his very soul, he would have taken that white throat in a fatal grasp of iron with no more compunction than he would any venomous boast that is dangerous to life, JBut it was not hia role to take up this hint ot tiers.

Iso, lie said, slowly and sadly ; you need never fear that horrible fate for her at any rate. Her brain is as sound as mine, but it is her health we need to fear, Mrs Mortimer : the heart is so weak, llio constitution so undermined by the fever, the whole strength is prostrate (his eyes were fixed on her face as he spoke). it is not for her reason I fear, but her iifo; Again that gleam for the hundredthpart of a second, like a Hash of evil light, oven as she cried out wildly—a little too wildly lor so keen an antagonist ;

gNtqno! Oli, Heaven, no! Don’t say that! You can—you must do something !

I will do all in my power, Mrs Mortimer and of course there is much hope, bat 1 never deceive in these things; and we doctors know that a genera! prostration and debility’ of the system is far worse to grapple with than definite disease, StiH, she has youth on her side, and iu a few weeks I shall be better able to give an opinion. If you like to call in a physician——

No, no, half sobbed Aldyth (Not badly done, euher, thought Lance, sardonically) it won d only alarm her ; and 1 have such absolute reliance iu you, that unless you wish fur farther advice

Ido nfor myself, said Darrel! ; only it was ol your anxiety I thought ; but in truth the case is no unusual one, requiring ’■cry unusual treatment, Vv ell, good jimhr, Mrs Muitiiner, for you look tired, Good nigh*.

They sh-.ok hands a& usual, but licis trembled and lingered in Ids a second as she munmoc that “good night” with drooping eyt-s and deepened coloui. She I'ltlo guessed tne stern control the wau

put upon himself, for his darling’s sake not to flint; from him, in horror and dm gu*t, this unwomanly woman, who Lknew now to the fnll was plotting tlxdestruction of an '.nnocent girl. Yet he only dropped her hand abrupth and in silence held open tho door for hi ' to pass out, as if he would not trust himself to speak. For (jorai, what could hj not do and en lure !

But A Myth Mortimer never dreamed how completely she was being deceive and fooled, and I urine herself on, rather ■han being lured into ihe morass, by a will-o’-the-wisp—handsome, soft-voic d. harum-scarum Lance, with velvet dart eyes and golden tongue. Ah ! he ! Subtle, dangerous, bold Lance Darrel . matching guile with deeper guile, rnaakin his purpose with laughing lips and careless mien.

Oh, fool and blind guide—blinded with vanity and passion, and thirst for lucre, She stood before the tall mirror in her own chamber, her cheeks aglow, lui wyes spa'kling with triumph and joy, gazing on net* own fair face, and superb, well developed form, Yes, yes, she said, clasping her hands in a transport ; lie loves me—me only. I saw it in bis manner —in everything. I know it, and he knows, now—he mus. know now that I love him madly, as he shall me, He will be my slave tool —to —to—sweep away the obstacle I cannot, dare not, crush myself unaided. Yes, yvs ; to gain me and fortune he will do hj, will soon get used to the on!}' way of removing the hairier. Oh, I knew I had b<*auty and power to enthral him ; but L must bind him closer still before I him that the—the frail thread may snap ; then he must get used to the thought ; it appalled even me at first, or I had neve, been coward enough, to let that fever play me so false after all, and slip its grip. But 1 am used to the idea now, Used to the idea. Why, the vc-n shadows on the walls seemed to gibe and mock her as they flickered in the lamp light. If ihe con'd only have seen now tlm man from whom she had recently parted she would scarcely have deemed herself sc sure of victory.

CHAPTER XVI. Once alone in his sitting room, tin fierce-storm of passion, and scorn, and horror that Lance Darrell had «o long sup pressed broke through the outward calm in the moment that the iron hand of control was relaxed. With livid face and quick-drawn breath, and blood that burned like fire in hia veins he paced to and fro—to and fro a hundred tunes, simply becau.se stillness was impos aible for many.a long minute; he musi move ; move, if be were to master the des perate, passionate desire to destroy ai once tho human tigress who thirsted for the life of the being he loved ;it was tlnvery instinct of annihilation itself ; fierce, pitiless; tho instinct the seaman feels to wards the murderous shark, his natural encmv, that makes him slay it with an actual savage "joy ; the instinct the Indian tiger-hunter feels ns he faces the blood* thirsty man-eater. And when at length the wild tempest steadied down again into deep summer quietude, the man laughed, in ironical iiuaiou' - , at the grim comedy of the seemho had jnst gone through. Then he threw open a window and stepped on to the balcony, just to breathe the sweet pure air of heaven , and as he stood gazing out insensibly the still beauty of the night quieted and soothed the passion and pain that racked his soul. <f Silence, silence everywhere, On tho earth and in the air.” To be continued 1