An Australian Story.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 17, Issue 61, 4 August 1903, Page 7

An Australian Story.

THE WAY OF THE WORLD.

AN AUSTRALIAN NOVEL.

By GROSVENOR BUNSTER. 1 PART XVII. ' ? • : "So soon as I pouch the money, dear madame, I cross over to your side, and fight under your banner. On my honor I will be aithful." And Mr. Loup, who invoked his honor in all sincerity, and has though he were in actual possession of that artiole, bowed gravely; his hand upon his heart; and Mr. Steel here returning, he took his leave with many complimentary speeches, Mrs. Steel was unusually gay that afternoon ; and behaved so affectionately towards her husband that the little gentleman was bewildered. For hitherto Mrs. Steel's demonstrations had been of the passive kind; rather implied than acted; given more by a smile or soft speech, than by caress or embrace. And that evening Mrs. Steel, entering the little sitting room, wrapped up for a walk,* bade her husband remain at home while sho paid a visit to her dressmaker. He would have sought to accompany her, but in her quiet, but preemptory way she signified her wish that he should remain at home. So he sank back in his chair, in his usual fashion, and commenced to smoke a cigar, and read the last number of Tinsley, And Mrs. Steel went forth humming a tune, and with a step surprisingly light for one who usually waddled along much in the manner of a Turkish belle taking the air in the falling of Swoes Waters. ■••■»• . ■:.•. * It was past ten o'clock when she returned. Mr. Steel had fallen asleep, and woke to find his wife standing by his side, and looking at him curiously. But she smiled cheerily as his eyes met his, ' "You are late, dear," said he. - " Yes, you know, Simon, when we women get talking about dress, we forget how the time passes.

' Oh, how cold it is ? and she wrapt her cloak around her and sat down in an armchair. Mr. Steel, who was watching her with the affectionate solicitude of a weakminded benedict, observed that there was a startled look in her eyes, and that her face was drawn and haggard. •• You are not well, Elise," said he, " Come, darling, you must go to bed." " I am not very well, Simon," answered his wife, with a weary sigh. " But lam not wearted; I cannot sleep. Go you, my dear, and leave me alone awhile; I want to think." -■, •• • ■,->■■

' Mrs. Steel had some idea that the labor of thought with his wife was of no trifling character, and he therefore the moremdily acquiesced with her request, or rather command ; for somehow there was a ring in Mrs. Steele's gentlest tones which demanded obedience. So he went to bed, leaving his wife seated by tho window in her sitting-room. The house in which they lodged was situated in Macquarie-street, and from the window at which Mrs. Steel Bat a view was obtained of the park land called the Domain. It was moonlight; and standing out in weird relief she could seo the monument erected in memory of Governor Bourke at the western en trance to the park. The view must have had its fascination for her; since she sat for many an hour, even until the grey dawn slowly chased the night away. Thon she arose and went to her room. Her husband was asleep He was not a bad looking fellow, poor little Steel; and as he slumbered the weak and undecided expression., which usually characterised his face was not so palpable. Mrs, Steel looked at him with something like an expression of pity and regret on her fair faco. Presently she

turned away with a gesture of impatience. Then she took a cigar caso from his pocket and a packet of bank notes, and unlocking a cabinet placed them safely away. And as aho did this & curious smile crept across her face.

Presently she was asleep beside her hus band ; whatever may have been the agitation which had evidently animated her face a few hours back, it now no longer influenced her. We have seen that she was not of a nature to remain long impressed, either by joy or grief, and that her equable temperament enabled her to go through the world unruffled and undisturbed by the storms and tempests which tear and wreck commouplace people. Remembering this we can quite understand that some unusually grave occurrence had served to trouble Mrs. Steel on this occasion. But she soon fell into that calm and pluoid sleep which, we are told, come alone to the innocent and pure. Now that is a lie. I've seen something of the ways of this world, in many fornu and under many circumstances; my experience tells me that your rascal can eat, drink, and sleep with as sound an enjoyment as the best and purest. 1 have had the pleasure of i,!eep* ing for months in the forecastle with a crew of ruffians who would have had as little hesitation In cutting your throat as in eating their breakfast, and who, in n° boastful spirit, but as a matter of commonplace fact, often relieved the watch by tales of rapine and bloodshed, in which they had played a prominent part. Do you think conscience troubled these fellows ? Not a bit. They slept as calmly as babes, through the medium of their sens**Ana so did Mrs, Steel, who, yielding for » moment rather to a sense of dread than rcpeutance, now assumed her natural humor and took her natural sleep, Mr. and Mrs. Steel were at breakfast, when the laudlady entered with a dish of

-Such a horrible affair,' 1 she cried; "a man found dead not-five huudred yards away, close to Governor Bourke'B Monument. The police are carrying him to the dead-house," and she leant out of the window, Mrs, Steel followed, and looked forth also, and her husband, with that morbid curiosity, which seizes upon the weak-minded and forces them to look upon that which repels and disgusts them, g»2ed forth from another window. The police were passing by, and as he looked, the dead man's head swung over the streroher, upon

which the body was placed. The eyes were open and staring wide; and between the white teeth (the lips being drawn back, and bo, as it were, conveying a hideous grinning expression to the face) the butt of a cigar was firmly held. Mr. Steel gazed in tenor Then he staggered back in horror. " My God !" he cried, a swift, undefined, yet terrible suspicion coming to him. "It is Mr. Loup." His wife withdrew her shapely head from the window.

"I believe it fs," she said calmly. "1 did not tell you, dear, because 1 did not wish to make you nervous. But from something he suid to me yesterday, 1 can under* stand this terrible affair."

"Then you believe hehus committed suicide ?" cried the landlady, who, after the manner of her kiud, had listened intently,

" 1 think it is very probable," auswered Mrs. Steel, with the greatest oalmness. '* It struck me yesterday, whin he called upna ns, trut he seemed rattier Highly. Poor Mr. Loup, Finish your breakfast, Simon, and then go down to the ••tfk-e and inform the police that we know the dead man. Pass me an egg, dear.' 1 And Mrs. Steel proceeded to enjoy her morning meal, with her customary appreciation of the good things of this life. Admirable woman.

But her husband was shocked and terrified by this sudden death, Perhaps * lecret Influence which no himself did oot realise, and added to his nervous horror—a vague feeling that ihe very mng front exhibited by his wife over the matter poiatcd to a heurtlesaness and indifference which «•*» ominous. He was in trouble and bewilder' ment, and sat looking at his wife as she leisurely ate her breakfast, with a blank horror in his face which told of the tjondilion ot his mind.

Mrs. Steel, albeit, she did not lift her eyes from her plate, was perfectly well aware of the nature of her husband's thoughts. .Presently she looked him in the face.

" Well, Simon," she said, "W baton earth are you looking at me in that manner?'* " I beg your pardon, my dear,'' he o*• claimed, M This awful matter has quite unnerved me. I—it is awful.'*

" What is awful," cried the lady, raisiog ber.fine eyebrows with an expression o contempt. "I confess I see nothing awfuf in t e man's death. He rud to die, just as you and I have 5 and though he took his departure somewhat suddenly, and by his own hand, he only followed out the way of the world, my dear " And Mrs. Steel, for whom this was a very long speech, paused for breath, and helped herself to some more cream in her tea. Mr. Steel sat limp and miserable. It was all true, he thought, but it was none the less. horrible, and he didn't like to hour a woman sneak so flippantly of death, more particularly when that woman was his wife. " Perhaps, Elise, he didn't commit suicide. | Perhaps he was mur murdered, you know," ventured Mr. §. in a tremulous voice. She looked up quickly, and her cold blue eyes searched his countenance, and doubtless there read his thoughts, fn truth it was not a very difficult matter to interpret Mr. Steel's face when agitated. j

" I don't see how it concerns us in any way, she said, we knew the man : but I for one was not particularly fond of him. I own to you that hia death creates in me no regrets. I thiuk he committed suicide. These French vagabonds always end up in that way, They think It is heroic; and never reflect that they aro forgotten 'ere tho sun sets upon the corpse. Howover, go down to the office, tell them as I directed you, and ascertain any particulars. I'm going to write to Madame Lafleur and Ethel, and this will be news for them." So Mr. Steel, in. bumble obedience, went to tho water police office to seo whither the body had been taken, saying that .ho had known tho dead man ; they conducted him to the dead house, and showed him the body. Poor little Steel nearly fainted, as be looked upon the face of the dead man and marked a mocking smile in his open eyes, and a grinning sneer in the expression of his eyes. And between the white strong teeth, the butt of a cigar still remained. j •' Ho must have gone off guddent," said a policeman, "no corpse as ever I sce'd, and I've see'd hundreds, ever grinned like that In death. I say it's pison. You'd better step into the ooroner's clerk, sir, and gityer summons. The inquest u'll be held at 12, O'clock." !

So Mr. Steel, having received a summons to attend, and carrying a similar document to Mrs. Steel, enforcing her attendance also, went back to his wife. He found her eated on the balcony, which overlooked the beautiful scenery of the domain, and tbe broad stretches rf the river, and the blue outline of the distant heads. It was one of those genial days, when indolence h bliss, and when one, a« it were, mingles with the warm air and ruffles with tho lazy breeze. Mrs. Steel's seoFuol' nature was en rapport with such a day She' looked languidly lovely. Her blue eyes were half closed, and a certain lazy volup tuousoesa chaiacterised her manner and appearance. She looked up as Mr. St«el entered.

" Well, my dear, did you see poor Mr. Loup?" Mr. Steel shuddered, as he wiped the great beads of perspiration from his face. " Oh, he looks awful," he cried. " There-! is a mocking look in his eyes and a cynical, j sneering expression about hia mouth which appears most horribly repulsive." And Mr. Steel spoke with unusual fervor. Mrs. Steel laughed gently-a low, rippling, mocking laugh, which, however, musical as it was, grated on her husband's ears most harshly. " And," proceeded Mr. Steel, " between his teeth he has the butt of a cigar, hold with vice-like strength."

Mrs. Steel looked vtp, "I recollect," she said, " I noticed it as they carried the poor wretch past. Yes, remember he was a great smoker Simon see if you can get thai piece of cigar." "Elsie 1*

" Well," she cried with a smile, "it is only a whim you know, I've some queer fancies sometimes; and this is one, so wheu the inquest is over get me the butt oi the cigar which Mr. Loup clenches so firmly. Tell them that we desire it as a souvenir of our lamented friend." Mrs. Steel laughed

this time joyously. Her husband regarded her in silent imbecility. He began to fear her. There was a subtle power about the woman which raised his apprehension; a mockery of tenderness and sympathy, and pitv, which struck him with repulsion. For the first time the thought came to him in a clearly defined shape—that he had made a mistake in wedding the fat one, and an ominous dread took possession of him, a prophetic feor that by his union with the woman he had made away with all peace and happiness, which might spring from an innocent and honorable life. Have you ever looked upon a huge serpent as it lies in a torpor after a gorge, and do you recollect how a sense of the slumbering strength and wickedness was suggested by the sight ? The marvellous b«autiea of the reptile's slud, and the graceful repose of its position, could not repel tho feeling of dread and disgust which it excited. And now something ol this came upon poor Stfeel. So he left the room with a soft step and went forth for a walk.

Mrs. Steel sat for a long time looking out upon the beautiful scene before her. Now and then a quiet smile would puss across her lace, and once she laughed outright. Happy woman, to whom no such matters as ruQle common people could bring * passing frowo or cause a sigh or murmur.

Mr and Mrs, Steel attended at the inquest and gave their evidence. Mr. Steel was surprised to observe that his wife now exhibited emotion to which she had hitherto been superior. Her voice trembled, and as she suid she had known the deceased very intimately, it seemed that it was only by the exertion of great control she was able to avoid burstiog into tears. Aod the unwelcome truth camo to Steal that his wife was a cold blooded hypocrite. Poor fellow, his dream was destined to be short indeed.

The postmortem revealed that the deceived lud expired suddenly from violent congestion of the brain. The surgeon fraukly owned the case was one that puzzled him. The diagnosis presenting every consistent evidenced the causeof death,whilo he was unable to account lor tho origin of that cause, However, the matter euded there, and a verdict from natural causes was returned ; and Mr. Loup was buried. Mr. Steel and one or two foreigners who had known the dead man followed him to the grave.

Mr. Steel procured the butt of the cigar and brought it to his wife, who looked toog and curiously at it, Then with a smile she carried it to her cabinet and locked U away.

Mrs. Steel wrote at once to Madame Larleur informing her of the sad occurrence, and sending a report of the inquest. *'Vou cauoot think, dear Madame," she wrote, " how ail this has shocked me. It is awful to consider that one may be in one's health aud spirits to day and in the grave tomorrow The matter has made a strong impression upon my mind : and I begin to think It's time f turned my thoughts to serious contemplation. We leave to morrow for California, whence in all likelihood we shaft" make for Foglaod. Simon sends his best love.—Your affectionate friend,

ELISE STEEL.

P.S.—" Was it not a singular circumstance that poor Mr Loup was smoking when he died ; I have secured the butt oi the cigar which he had clenched between his teeth : and on comparison I find it is similar to the cigars you gave me sometime ago, and which, as you told me, can be used so happily under delicate circumstances. Truly the whole affair presents food for reflection. Docs it not ?-E. S."

Madame was at breakfast in her own room when she received this letter. For a few moments she sat gazing at the lines which told her of the failure of the project; then she flashed red, and then a pale white shadow overcast her face. Her features grew rigid, and then thin froth* oozed from between her tightly closed lips. Suddenly she uttered a fearful shriek, and fell limp and helpless, a huddled up paralytic figure on the floor. And when Patty and Ethel ran into the room and raised her up, and forced some water between her lips, the woman's eyes met her daughter's, with such agony expressed in them that Ethel could not look back again.

Madame Lafleur never recovered sufficiently to speak. She died within a week of being stricken down ; without the power to utter one word concerning the matter which' she longed to reveal. For even then as she approached the portals of the unknown, Madame's eager hate and malice controlled her; and she would ask for no other boon, than the power to tell that which would lead to Mrs. Steel's ruin. What she had to tell matters little. She died, and Mrs. Steel who may be supposed to have been favored by the gods, sailed on to California, the only holder of a secret* which even she knew well, must ruin her, utterly and irreclaimable if breathed to the world , rt was some few weeks after all this had taken place that Ethel was surprised by a; visit from Mr. Gordon. Since little. Wiljje; died she had not seen that gentleman more; than half adozen times; and then only in the street, when he would' pus's'Tver by with a slight bow. But a secret voice told her he would soon see her. And so ! when she was told that he had called, she was in do wise surprised.

Why, then, did she start and tum'pale and red by turns, and p»use in timid hesitancy? Why did her heart beat so painfully, and her eyes were » soft yet startled expression? and' why did a smile come to her sweet face, 10 fuU of gentle contentment and delight ? Well, a little patience and we sb*ll see. He greeted ber affectionately; but with none of that old impulsive eagerness In truth the man was wholly changed Physically, thla war eery apparent He lacked much older, and. in place of his former giy, reckless air and mannei, he now appeared ?übd'ied and iven sad. Sb* ooked at him curiously and a* she marke( these changes, her love, always stroug and loyal. orpw into deener life {To it Continued.}