CHAPTER IV.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 71, 11 October 1884, Page 4

CHAPTER IV.

CROSS PURPOSES. When she had shut herself into her room, Jessie walked up and down in great perturbation. She Avas glad, on the whole, that this dreaded wooer was thus quite out of the question, and had even put his own hand to the spoiling of the hated mariiage plan. But this did not diminish her wrath at the egotism and avarice of this man, who had again revealed all his meanness to her. He was in love, and, it seemed to be, truly and honestly. On the way to the rich but unloved bride so carefully provided by his brother, this forlorn young creature had made a real impression on him, What prevented him from introducing her, and if Sandow proved stern and unbending, returning to Germany with her? He had left an independent position there, which would be open to him again, and assured him enough to marry on without interferfei'ence. But then the considerations of money and his brother's will came in, and he must secure that at any cost. So the young lady must p)ay the part of a stranger, all sorts of tricks must be resorted to, and an intrigue set on foot in order to flatter the rich brother into consent. And if he should give an obstinate refusal -and Jessie knew that her guardian prized poople only according to their fortunes, and would never acknowledge apoorsister-in-law — then the enthusiastic cultivator of the ideal would doubtless choose the inheritance, and leave his bride in the lurch as he had already done with his vocation. Jessie's honest, open nature was strongly averse to the part laid out for her, but she saw the necessity of forwarding this union with all her influence. She wished at any price to avoid an open quarrel with her guardian. It was a sort of compulsion under which she acted. If she succeeded in gaining Sandow's consent, then the threatened storm would be averted. It was odd that the only circumstance in Gustav's favour, that he was capable of loving truly, annoyed Jessie most. She had reproached him bitterly for willingly falling in with his brother's calculations, yet now when he upset these calculations ; she was even more prejudiced against him. She had quite decided that the man was to be despised, and so she determined to despise him under any circumstances. Meanwhile Gustav Sandow had mounted the stairs to the room where his brother impatiently awaited him. " I really thought you would never make up your mind to come," was his reception in the sharpest of tones. " I was talking to Miss Clifford," said Gustav in defence, " and could not possibly break off our conversation at such an interesting point. " ! The excuse did not fail in effect. The projected marriage was too important to Sandow, and Jessie's distaste too evident for him not to leave his brother every opportunity for wooing. So he replied more mildly ; " I suppose it was only another dispute. You seem to enjoy such perpetual nonsense, but I do not see that you make any progress with Jessie by it. She is very reserved with you." " You know nothing about my progress, Frank," returned Gustav in an injured tone. " I have made considerable progress, ltell you." I » We will hope so, " said Sandow. "And now to business. It is about that affair I meant to undertake in common with that New York man. He has spoken to you about it, he tells me, and I gave you the correspondence to look through yesterday ; so you know something about it." "Yes, I know something about it," said Gustav becoming suddenly grave, and the answer was in marked contrast to M 3 usual gay, careless tone. Sandow, however, took no notice, and continued : "You know we have large stretches of land in the West, as yet uncultivated for the most part. The terms of purchase were extremely favourable, but the land is of such extent that Jenkins cannot manage the undertaking alone. So he came to me, and persuaded me to join him. We had the luck in short to get the land for very little, and we want to get rid of it on the best possible terms. We can only manage that by directing emigration, especially German emigration, thither. All our preparations are made, and we are now thinking of taking the thing in hand in earnest." "One question only," said Gustav, interrupting this dr}' business explanation. "Do you know what your purchase is like from personal inspection ?" "I should not have taken up such an affair without investigation. Of course I know it." "So do I !" said Gustav laconically. Sandow started. "You? How? How did you learn it ?" "Very simply. Mr Jenkins, whom I visited in New York at your request, explained to me in course of conversation that you rely." on me, or rather on my pen, for support. So I considered it necessary to study the subject with my own eyes. That was the only l'eason of my late arrival, and of my ' tour,' as you call it. I wanted particularly to know where my countrymen were to be sent to." Sandow frowned darkly. " You gave yourself unnecessary trouble. We do not go to work so thoroughly here. Moreover, I consider t it very strange that you should only tell me this after you have been here a week. But that is enough. We count in any case on you and your journalistic connections ; our agents will do their beat, but that is not enough. People mistrust them, and the competition is so great. The great thing would be to get one of the influential German journals, one whose reputation is above slander, to support our interests. You are no longer correspondent of the C Gazette, but they lost you very unwillingly, and would accept reports on American affairs from your pen with pleasure. A series of articles in your brilliant style, and with your eloquence, would ensure our success, and if you used your other journalistic influence as widely as possible, there is no shadow of a doubt that the tide of German emigration would turn our way next year." Gustav listened in silence without attempting to interrupt by a syllable, but now he looked earnestly at his brother's face. " You forget one thing, that your property is not in the least fitted for emigrants. The land is as bad as possible, the climate most unhealthy, in some months fatal. The ground is barren, repaying the most gigantic efforts with the poorest results. Means of cultivation are utterly wanting, and the few emigrants scattered here and there are wasting away in misery and disease. They are the defenceless victims

of the destructive elements, and those who follow them from Europe will be ruined as they were." Sandow listened in ever increasing surprise. Words failed him in which to express his wrath ; at last ho burst out angrily :— " What exaggerated nonsense ' Who put such stuff in your head ? and how can you, a complete stranger, judge of such circumstances. What do you know about it?" " I have obtained the most oxact information on the spot. My informant is assuredly correct." " Nonsense, and if it were, what does it matter to you? Will you, who havo only been a week in an olHce, dictate to me how I should manago my speculations ?" "Certainly not! But when such a speculation cost 9 the lifo and health of thousands, wo havo anothor name for it at homo." "What?" asked Sandow threateningly, approaching his brother, who stood his ground, and replied firmly, " Swindling." " Gustav !" cried Sandow in a passion "You dare " " Of course that refers to Mr Jenkins," said Gustav carelessly. "The inestimablo amiability with which that honourable man received me, and dwelt on the popularity of my name, and the brilliant rosults of my writing, which could work wonders even here, made mo suspicious from the first, and decided me to make the journey. You do not know these lands, Frank. You only gave them a very cursory glance when you made the purchase. But now your eyes are opened, you will require the evidences for my sake, and then the speculation will fall through." Sandow seemed very little inclined to use the loophole left open by his brother. "Who tells you so?" he asked sternly. " Do you think I will givo up the thousands I have staked on this speculation for no other reason than because you havo some sentimental prejudice? The land is neither better nor worse than it is in hundreds of other places, and the immigrants have to struggle with the iniluences of the climate and the soil wherever they go. With the necessary industry they will soon overcome it. It will not be the first German colony that has grown and developed under all manner of difficulties." " After hundreds and hundreds have been ruined, that means when the ground has been enriched at the cost of German lives !" Sandow bit his lip. He evidently controlled himself with difficulty, and his voice was choked with passion as he answered : " Who gave you leave to travel there on your own account? This exaggerated conscientiousness is m^plieed, and will be no use to you anywhere. If I had not taken Jenkins's oiler, ton others would have done it with the greatest alacrity. It was hi? ideo, and I must acknowledge that lie came to me first." "To you — a German. That was a great token of respect from this American." It was odd that this same man, who a quaiter of an hour before was so anxious to conceal his love aftairs from his stein brother becausehemightbedispleatedthereat, now showed that brother so bold a front on an affair that did not personally concern him. Sandow, though he knew nothing of the conversation with Jes-ie, was extremely annoyed at this contretemps. "You are suddenly turned into a moral hero," he sneered. "It is hard to reconcile it with the very material motive that brought you here. You should hare been clear about it before. If you are to be a partner in this firm, you must put its interests before everything else, and in those interests I demand that you shall write those articles, and see that they are duly printed in the proper quarters. Do you near, Gustav ? You will do that, whatever happens ?" "To send my countryman to stifle in that fever-swamp ? No !" "Think it over before you decline so decidedly," said Sandow, with a coldness behind which his burning wrath was quite evident. "It is the first request I have made you. If you refuse in this, our partnership is impossible. It is in my power to cancel theagreementbetween us— remember that." " Frank, you will not force me — " "I force you to nothing ; I only explain to you that we must part if you keep to your refusal. If you will take the consequences, do ; I stick to my agreement." He turned to his desk, and taking up some papers from it, placed them in his pocket-book. Gustav stood by in silence, his eyes fixed on the ground, a deep shadow on his brow. " Just now, when Frieda is on the way here!" he muttered. "Impossible ! I cannot give that up. " " Well," asked Sandow, turning to him again. " Let me have time to think it over ; the thing is so unexpected. I will consider about it." The elder brother was very glad of this much acquiescence ; he had not, indeed, doubted that his threats would take effect in time. " Good ; a week sooner or later docs not matter. I hope you will see reason, and accept the fact that you have to deal with things as they are. Now, come, it is time we were at the office. And, once for all, Gustav, take my advice in future, and never undertake on your own account such extravagances as this journey was. You see it only causes unpleasantness between us. You make your position unnecessarily difficult." " Quite true," said Gustav, half to himself, as he prepared to follow his brother ; " the position is pretty difficult— more difficult than I expected." The afternoon came, and Jessie awaited her visitor with some anxiety and a great deal of curiosity. Gustav Sandow had told her before he started for town in the morning that he would leave the office earlier than usual in order to fetch Miss Palm from the station, and escort her to the country house before his brother returned. At the appointed hour he entered the room, leading a young girl by the hand. He introduced her as "Miss Frieda Palm, my young charge, and henceforth our young charge, since you are so kind as to offer her an asylum in your house." Jessie felt painfully confused at this form of introduction. So he did not even then dare for once to introduce her as his betrothed. " Young charge," that was a very ambiguous word. He wanted to leave himself a way of retreat if his brother should prove inexorable. Miss Clifford pitied the young girl from her heart for having given herself to such an egotist ; consequently her reception was warmer than she had intended it to be. " You are very welcome, Miss Palm," she said kindly. "I have heard all about you, and you can trust me altogether. Ido not usually betray my trusts." The / was slightly but distinctly emphasised, but the one for whom the hit was meant unfortunately remained untouched thereby. He appeared well pleased at the success of his plan, while the young girl in a low and somewhat unsteady voice replied :— " You are very kind, Miss Clifford, and I only hope I may deserve your kindness." Jessie made the visitor take a seat beside her, and during the first questions as to her journey and arrival found an opportunity of studying her future inmate. Sht was a very

young girl, almost a child ; she could hardly have attained her sixteenth year, but her soft ohildish features woro an expression of earnestness and steadfastness surprising for her age. The large, dark eyes mostly rested on the ground, but when she raised them it was with such a shy trustfulness that it hardly accorded with the energy promised by her features. Hor dark hair was simply brushed back, and her deep mourning dress made the young stranger look even paler than she really was. " You are an orphan ?" asked Jessio with a glance at her dress. "I lost my mother six months ago," was the low, improssivo answer. This touched a kindred chord in Jessie's bosom. She too mourned beloved paronts, and tho painful rcminisccnco left its impress on her foaturos. "So we have a similar fate. I too have lost my parents ; my father died a year ago. Yours has been doad some years ?" The young giris lips trembled as &ho replied almost inaudibly :—: — "In my childhood I hardly romember him." " Poor child," said Jessio with roatly sympathy ; "it must be sad to bo so quite alono and forsaken in the world." "Oh, I am not forsaken. 1 havo found a protector in tho noblest and best of men." The dovotion that spoko in those words was truly affecting, and the look she gave Gustav Sandow betrayed enthusiastic gratitude ; but he took it all with the most provoking composure, receiving tho homage like a Pacha, which enraged Jessie. He seemed to regard it as a -\\ ell deserved compliment, and replied in his usual jesting tone: " You see how I stand with Frieda, Miss Clifford. I wish sho could convert you to her opinion of me, but I am afraid there is no hope of that." Jessio ignored this remark. She thought the way in which he received the girl's devotion, and in a manner made a joke ot it, perfectly tlctostablo, so she turned to MRs Palm again. "Meanwhile only I can welcome you. My guardian does not know about you yet ; but he soon will do, and I hope w ith all my heart that you will succeed in gaining his sympathy." Frieda did not answer. Sho gave an odd shy glance at the speaker, and then looked silently at the ground. Jessie was lather chilled by this reception of her well-meant words, when Gustav joined in with : "You will ha\e to be tender with Frieda at tirst. She finds it difh'cult to accommodate herself to new circumstances, and the part she is obliged to play in this house f lightens and depre-^e^ her." "Obliged by your derision •" Jessie could not help ejaculating, " Yes, but that is all the same. At any rate, she knows ot this decision, and also knows that it is the only way to gain our end. Ls it not so, Fiieda — you trust me implicitly ?" Instead of answering, Fiieda held out her hand to him with an expression that would have tempted any other lover to cany it to his lips. This lover, however, quietly held it in hi^ ; he novldcd kindly to her, and said, " Yes, I knew " "I will do all that lies in my power to lessen the disagreeablene&s of your position," Jessie assured her. "And can I not keep you here with me from now ?" " We should prefer to defer it till tomorrow," said Gustav. "My brother would be too much surprised to find a perfect stranger, of whose arrival he had never heard, installed here as an inmate. It might awaken his suspicions. I think it is better for Frieda to go to the hotel, where I took her on the way here, to leave her luggage, and secure a room. There will be an opportunity in the course of the evening to mention her and quietly lead up to the idea." Jessie was all the more annoyed at the proposal as she recognised the advisability of it. "You arc wonderfully careful, Mr Sandow ! I am lost in admiration of your foresight and head for details." Gustav bowed as if ho had received a real compliment. "Yes, ye 3, Frieda," he said, replying to the surprised, inquiring glance of tho young girl on hearing this mockery, "Miss Clifford and I admire each othor extraordinarily. You see what respect we have for each other. But we must go now, or else my brother will surprise us hero." Frieda rose obediently. Jessie deeply pitied this poor child, who followed tho dictates of her lover so implicitly, and she took a warm leave of her. Gustav conducted Miss Palm to the hired carriage, which was waiting outside to take her to the hotel, but just as they wexe descending the steps, a second carriage drove up, and Sandow, who had left -when the office hours were over, got out of it. " My brother," whispered Gustav. Miss Palm must have been terribly afraid of this stern brother, for she suddenly turneJ pale, and started as if she meant to run away, while her hand trembled on her protector's arm. "Frieda," lie said in a grave, warning voice. The warning had some effect. Frieda tried to command her feelings, but her fear was evidently not that of a frightened dove. The look she gave the new arrival was one of dogged, almost angry, defiance, tho energetic stamp of her features became more marked, as if she wished for a combat there and then with the opponent whose favour she ought to strive for. Meanwhile Sandow had entered the vestibule where they stood together. He bowed slightly, and appeared surprised to see his brother with a perfect stranger. Frieda returned the bow without stopping. Indeed, she seemed most anxious to hasten her departure, and thus prevent all chance of an introduction. Gustav saw there was no use in opposing her, so he conducted her to the cairiago, closed the door, and gave tho coachman tho name of the hotel. " Who was that girl?" inquired Sandow, who had stood waiting for his brother. "A Miss Palm," he replied carelessly. '• An acquaintance of Miss Clifford's." "To whom you are offering your services ?" " Not exactly ; my services are offered to Miss Clifford. At her request I brought the young lady here from the station. She seemed much interested in her. You know I left the office sooner to-day." "Are you so much in Jessie's good graces that she gives you commissions like that?" said Sandow, much pleased at the progress his brother had made. They then mounted the steps and entered the passage. On entering the drawingroom, Gustav took the affair energetically in hand, and began : " Mv brother has already seen your charge, Miss Clifford, we met him in the vestibule." " Who is your new acquaintance, Jessie ?" asked Sandow with unusual interest. "I never heard o\ her before." Jessie felt, now it came to the first untruth, the whole difficulty of her responsibility ; but now she had gone this far, she was obliged to go on. Sne replied rather hesitatingly, "She is a young German girl recommended to me in New York ; she came here to look for a situation as companion — so I meant — I thought " " Yes, you carried your kindness very 1 far," interrupted Gustav. " This Miss Palm seems to have taken your sympathies by storm. Only think, Frank, Miss

Clifford has invited her to the house, and actually contemplates keeping her as our companion." Jessie threw him an indignant look, but could not avoid taking advantage of the help offered. "I have invited Miss Palm for some weeks at least," replied she, "If you have no objections, Uncle Sandow ?" "I?" he asked absently, while Ms eyes sought the evening newspaper which lay on the table on the verandah. " You know I never interfere with your domestic arrangements. It will be pleasant for you to have a constant companion, and if the girl is well recommended you can arrange it as you liko ;" and with that he wont out on to the vorandah and secured his newspaper. "I saw that I must come to your help, Miss Clillbrd, 1 ' said Gustav in a low voice. "You arc a very unpractised actross." " You think it a reproach ?" asked Jessie in a voice equally low, but trombling with anger. "I certainly have not brought the arl to such a pitch of perfection as you have." "0, it will come in time," said Gustav quietly, "if you arc in a difficulty come to me, I am always ready." "Clustav, have you road this evoning's paper ?" Sandow called from the verandah. "The German Exchango is very active; stocks are rising remaikably fast. You will find a full report of it here." "Rising, are thoy ?" said Gustav, going out, and taking the Gorman, journal his brothor oflered him. The latter was soon buried in another sheet, and did not see with what sovereign contempt Gustav turned from the money article without a glance, and gave his whole attention to the leading article on political topics. Jessie followed him with her eyes, and when she saw him bending so eagerly over the apparent Stock Exchange lists, her lips parted in a contemptuous smile, and she whispered, " Poor child, poor child • What i\ ill your fate be with such an egntist?"