Friend Olivia.

Southland Times, Issue 11656, 10 February 1891, Page 4

Friend Olivia.

By Amklia E. Bake in Century. Chapter XI. OLIVIA AND CROMWELL Lady Kelder had won a victory over her son, but she had no sense of triumph. What if Bhe got her wish about Ofoiia, and lost it about Kelderby I The God whom she served was a jealous God, balancing his favours according to tbe service given. She coald not expect too much from him. To clear Kelderby of all its obligations to De Burg, to clear Nathaniel of his obligations to Olivia, was perhaps beyond her desert. Of two evils she must cboose the lesser. After hours of restless anxiety she resolved to sacrifice her personal feeling* to tbe more permanent good. If only Kelderby were saved she would try — yes, she would try to accept Olivia.) The mysterious travail of sleep brought her only visions of confusion and anxiety. When the morning came she resolved to call upon Olivia, and judge with her own eyes and intelligence aB to tbe capabilities of the girl for the honor Nathaniel designed her. The concession was a great one ; how great Nathaniel coald not understand, because the way to Sandys, so hard for his mother, was just tbe way he liked best of all to go1T iB the greatest trial of my life, I believe,' she said to herself ; and she honestly felt is to be so. On the contrary, Nathaniel was eager to accompany her ; but she refused his attendance with a sharpness that bad sometiring ot reproach in it. 'No, sir ! I will take my woman with me; I have no mind to be audience to your veiled sweetbearting. Simon, the shrimp-fisher, was here yesterday about his cottage. Give a little of your time to the necessities of the people until your father returns. And to-day there may be a letter from him. "lis fit surely that either you or I be here to receive it.' ©o Women dress for men ? Never as they do for their own sex. Lady Kelder took from their manifold scented wrappings her very finest garments — an overdress of dark violet velvet, with a quilted satin petticoat of the colour ot old ivory. A thick gold chain held her pomander case, the case itself being of fretted Moorish work studdied with gem?. She put it to her nostrils, and with a wretched little laugh said to Jael : * Faith ! I shall need tbe camphor, 1 know ! My heart hath a strange fainting siokness already. And give me my fan, Jael — the one of foreign feathers with the silver handle ; and my bead dress of ivory satin edged with Flemish point She stood a moment before her mirror looking steadily at tbe woman reflected there — a handsome, resolute woman, tenacious of her own opinions, •nd finding out for them warranty of Holy Scripture or holy men. When she turned away, Jael gave her a long mantle of black Genoa velvet, and gloves of Spanish leather, richly embroidered and perfumed with orange flowers. Nathaniel was taken with a heartache when be saw her. He understood that the visit, undertaken with bo much ceremony, intended little kindness. Yet he felt himself the influence of such royal apparel, and conducted hi? mother t.> her coach with a deferential affection which would not be reasoned with. That morning Olivia was strangely ■ad and fearful. A journey to London was as great an event then as a journey across oceans is now ; and tbe very necessity for it implied a danger for her father that she had not apprehended. She was employed in preparations for it when Lady Kelder'e step upon the stone passage arrested her attention. Although it was a firm, slow step, Olivia knew at once that it wa9 the step, of a woman. She lifted her head and listened, for Hannah MetfeUne bad gone into Kendal to make some purchases, and she knew that the reception of any stranger must devolve upon her. As tbe visitor approached she laid down her work and stood up to meet her. At tbe same time Gideon threw wide the door, and with some circumstance announced, ' Lady Kelder/ The two women looked steadily at each other — Olivia's f»ce expectant, intermediate, ready to reflect instantly a smile or a pleasant light ; Lady Kelrler's interjt, curious, critical, for as vet she had seen Olivia only in a very hurried and cursory manner. Once they had passed each other on Kendal streets, and once, when Lady Kelder called upon Jane D'Acre, Olivia was just takirg leave of her friend. She had therefore but a slight remembrance of the girl ; now, however, she regarded her with a distinct purpose of examination. She saw a tall, slender, girlish figure in a white linen dress, with a square collar of English lace encircling her throat, the saw an oval face, delicately rounded ; eyes soft, deep, heavenly, with large and solemn gaze ; a sweet mouth, rosy and tender ; a steady round chin ; a color like a wild rose ; and a great abundance of soft brown bair. She felt also something of tbe unknown and unseen in her very simplicity, in tbe look and air of the girl, which checked every impulse towards what was trifling or disrespectful. But what the tongue or pen eturnblingly or slowly exprf-ese*, the ey«-s see in a moment : end Olivia's appe-'runce and manner was flashed upon Lidy Kelder'g consciousness as she walked with statfly grace from the door to tbe centre if the room. There Olivia met her. Lady K<lder courte*ie} slightly, i expecting from Olivia the deeper reverence due from youth to a»e. But Olivia's self respecting en el foil ale her to bend her knee to mortal man or woman. She simply extended her hand and said, ' Thou art very welcome.' Then there was a momentary pause ; but Lady Kelder was not a woman who hesitated, or who aJvunced to the expressiion of her opinions by roundabout vj*^>. She took iht> seat offered, and hfistre«s Prideanx, I ask you seriously, and I pray you resolve me truly, » your purpose to make a marriage Captain Kelder?' have promised to marry him — if G*| will.' Oh indeed ! I observe that young couple usually make God'a will fit their i desires.' l My conscience is a swift witness. I 4«sire only what Gnd wills.' Oly eon wished to marry yon to-day. To iuch • harry of lelf-plMiiog, wherein

will you discover any will higher than our own V 'I willed not to marry thy son to-day. 'Twas out of a sudden great fear and love that he spoke It thou knowest the circumstances, thou must. understand his desire.' • Indeed, mistress, I do not need you to explain my eon tome. And lam agreeably pleased to find that you have so much senpe as to put the bridle on an offer so beyond all reason. I must tell you that Kel erby itself stands in the 'nay' or 'yea' of the Protector, or else, in a case still worse, the honor of the De Burgs. It is inconceivable that Nathaniel should be wife-seeking when bis inheritance, and his home, and the honor of his name stand in such jeopardy.' ' Thou must know that my father's honor and my father's estate stand in still more perilous condition. How then could I take the thought of marriage into my heart at this time V ''T is indeed a time laden with strange things, and you must see bow inconvenient marrying and giving in marriage mu-t be in the press anJ hurry of so many great events.' * I think not of it. My heart is wholly set npon my fatbei's peril.' ' Nathaniel cays tbat you come not to Kelderby because I ask you not.' 'Nathaniel pats mv love and his own below what fits their right when he says so. Truly I will not come to Kelderby without thy welcome ; bnt I marry not Kelderby, but Nathaniel Kelder.' ' 'T is an unnecessary pride that yon show. A mother has some rights in the son she has borne.' 'A true wife will never wrong them. I seek not Nathaniel Kelder ; be seeks me.' ' Ab ! I thought surely that yon loved Nathaniel ' ' Tbou must conceive different, and put wrong words in my mouth. But I love him not better than duty and honour and truth. If thou art afraid I am going to wrong thy eon in any respect, put all thy fears away. I love not Nathaniel Kelder for myself, but beyond myself. When thon undersrandest that, thou wilt have a true welcome for me ; and perhaps, if God will, I may then come to Kelderby.' 1 What will you—' 'I will not at all. God wills.' ' You must know that the Kelders are a very old family. 'T is indeed a trial when they mate not with their equals. I say nothing against Master Prideaux, who is doubtless an excellent and respectable man.' ' I count the prohity and sagacity of my father so much higher than the tradition il Jglory of dead men as living virtu-- is higher than dead virtue.' ' Dead virtues are honorable, mis tress.' 'Yea, for the dead. 1 'On this matter truly we may have divided opinion^ but if it comes to giving occasion for evil-speaking, we must be at ore There hath been talk and gossip about you and Captain Kelder, and tbe tongue* of others are not in our control. Would it not be better to give the public assurance in regard to your position V 'If I pnflVred talk and gossip to move me I E<l o Id far the tongue of man more than tie c es of God.' 'As you like, mistress. For myself, I have ever found my misfortunes more supportable than the comments of my (riends on there. To be sure, if you heed not the words paid of you — ' ' If people epeak ill of me, I ask what kind of people they admire, and then it often happens that I am quite consoled. Thou wilt find it in general a comfortable answer. Wilt thou eat and drink with me V 'I am neither hungry nor thirsty, and my servants and horses wait.' Olivia had risen as she spoke, and Lady Kf-lder involuntarily followed her example. Young and slight as the girl lnokpd, she carried herself with great dignity. In Sandys tbe mistress of Sandys was tbe equal of tbe mist res* of Kelderby. For in her home a woman has immeasurable though intangibl advantages. She stands on her own ground, and thereby acqnires a moral right which prejudices «ny antagonist. (To be continued)