CHAPTER XXXVII.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 326, 19 December 1888, Page 6

CHAPTER XXXVII.

A THREAT AND A A\ EDDING-RIKG. Gladys's first impulse upon beholding her lover was to spring toward him, denounce I the man who had so insulted her and him. and demand to be conducted from his presence. ( Bufchcr judgment told her that this would j be very unwise ; there must be no scene in | that public place ; there must be no quarrel between those two men, and perhaps it j would be better that Geoffrey should never j know that Everet Mapleson held the secret of his birth. She knew he would never rest until he had wrung it fiom him, and that, she believed, would never be done wichoufc bitter feelings and perhaps strife. So, with a mighty effort, she controlled herself, drew her cloak about her shoulders to hide the heaving of her bosom, as she arose and turned a smiling though still pale face toward her lover. ' You have come, Geoffrey ; I am very glad. You will recognise an old classmate in Mr Mapleson,' she said, as she moved her chair further into the shadow of the draperies and made room for Geoffrey between herself and her other companion. Everet regarded the girl with wondering admiration. He knew that she was labouring under intense excitement, and that it required no light effoit on her part to conceal it. He understood her motive— that she wished to avoid a quarrel and a scene, and he thought her tact inimitable. Geoffrey greeted his former college-mate courteously, which greeting Mapleson returned with a cold, rather supercilious bow. He was always conscious of his own moral inferiority when in Geoffrey's presence, and the feeling galled him excessively. Geoffrey saw at once, in spite of Gladys's efforts to conceal it. that something hdd gone wrong with her, and he rightly guessed that Everet Mapleson had been the cause^of it. He gently seated her, and then placed himself beside her, while Mr Loring and his daughter returning at that moment, the party settled themselves very comfortably for the remainder of the evening. Everet devoted himself exclusively to Miss L ring, much to that young lady's secret delight ; her father gave his attention entirely to the stage, thus leaving Geoffrey and Gladys to them=elv s. ' What is it, dear ? — what has troubled you ?' Geoffrey a=ked, bending tenderly toward his betrothed, as he became more conscious of the difficulty she was labouring under to retain her composure. Gladys stole one little hand confidingly into his, under cover of her opera cloak 'Never mind. Geoff, now that I have you here : I will tell you some other time,' she whisp°red, as she in* oluntarily tinned her still flashing eyes toward young Mapleson, while a slight shive>* ran through her frame. Geoffrey's glance followed hero, and his face clouded. " Has he dared * he began; sternly. ' Hush i ! she returned ; 'it is all past ; he will never dare again.' She «aw that Geoffrey needed but a word to make him demand an explanation of his rival, and she feared the worst from a meeting between them ; so she resolved that she would not tell him what Everefc had told her l-egarding his parentage, at least not until after their marriage ; perhaps when they were on the ocean, where it would be impossible for him to take any aggressive measures- -until time had served to -rool his anger-, she might reveal what she had learned to him. So she tried to smile a.id appear interested in the opera, while every moment she wished it would end so that she might be release.d from that terrible -constr int. It was over at last, to hey intense relief. Everet Mapleson escorted Miss Loring from the building, but when the party reached the sidewalk they found such a crowd before them that they were obliged to step back and wait for it to disperse before they could~get to their carriage. . In doing this— "Evevefe Mapleson had managed so that he should stand close beside Gladys, for he had determined to fire a parting shot at her. He had been covertly watching her ever since their interview, and her attitude of trust and confidence toward" Geoffrey had been almost maddening to him. She was beautiful beyond comparison when she faced him in her indignation, defending her absent lover, and resenting the insult offered to herself ; he had never seen her so spirited before, and it lent an added chaFm to her fascinations, while he was .<lled with impotent rage that he was powerless to awaken any feelings in her heartfor him save those of scorn and contempt. ' Why should ha win ?' he cried within himself, as he marked Geoffrey's air of tender proprietorship 'he who has not even a name to "offer her, while T, "who am heir to the proud escutcheon of Mapleson, and to a double fortune, _perhap3 a triple one if he never discovers who he is, am able to excite nothing Tjut aversion and contempt. I wear I will not submit to it, and I will find some way to part them even now. lie has crossed my path too many timeg. I have never forgiven him the old score, and [ will never forgive him for being an interloper in my race.' All this was in his raind as he etood close beside the young bride-elect, while waiting for Mr Lot ing's carriage, and some evil spirit possessed him to assail her again. ' Miss Huntress,' he whispered, so close to her ear no one could possibly hear him in the tumult around them, ' doubtless you have heard that old saying, * There is manj r a 4ip twixt cup and iip. * ' Gladys never noticed him by so much as a glance. She might have been some beautiful statue and deaf to all sounds for any evidence that she gave of having heard him. And yet he knew she could not have failed to catch every woid that he had uttered. His blood began to boil at being thus ignored. 'Do you imagine that I shall tamely submit to see another man win you, and he so far beneath you ! It shall never be V Gladys turned at this and looked straight into his eyes and actually smiled ; a smile that drove him almost to a frenzy ; it was like a winter's sunbeam reflected from the iee — sharp, dazzling, chilling. ' The JtUure tense is not applicable in this case, Mr Mapleson,' she retorted in as icy a tone, while the air with which she settled her small hand more firmly within her lover' arm plainly said, lam already won !' Everet Mapleson ground his teeth in baffled rage. It was evident that in an open battle Miss Huntress was too much for him. • Wait,' he whispered again, ' the thirtieth may tell a different story ; at all events you are warned,' She did not design to notice his threat, and, an opening now presenting itself, Mr Loving led the way to the carriage, where, after assisting his companion to enter, Mr Mapleson took bis leave of the party and went his way.

Geoffrey was very much disturbed when Gladys told him that Everet Mapleson h»d again presumed to address woids of love to her — ioV she had decided that this was" all the explanation of the affair at the opera that she \>ould give him at present — and it I required all her power of persuasion to pre--venthiin irom demanding an apology for j the intuit. 1 Let it pass, dear ; pray let us have no trouble at this time,' she had urged. •But you are almost my wite, Gladys, and it is a terrible affront to me as well as to you,' Geoflrey returned hotly. 1 He is so far beneath you, Geoff, morally, that I cannot bear to have you lower yourself enough to notice him, and, belies c me, he received a lesson that he will not soon forget," Gladys concluded, with a spirit and energy that" both amused and delighted ■Geottrey, who well knew what his betrothed was capable of when once throughly aroused, and he could imagine j something of tlm scorn which the offender in question had called down upon his devoted head by hi? presumption. So he finally promised that he would not agitate the matter further, and he realised that it might result in a scandal that would prove very J annoying just at that time.It -eemed too, as if Evoiet Mapleson himself had no desire to come in contact with his successful rival, for he suddenly dropped out of society and was seen no more during the interval between that occurrence at the opera and the thirtieth * He was greatiy missed, however, by many of the languishing belles, for he was esteemed { a great catch,' a.nd had been most industriously angled for by numerous anxious mammas, and scheming fathers with a doubtful bank account. Miss Addio Loring, perhaps, took his sudden and unaccountable absence more to heart than any one else, for she had secretly begun" to enteitain a tendei liking for him. During the la^t week before the wedding, that event became the chief topic of the day in the circle in which Gladys and Geoffrey moved, for the match was considered a most rom <ntic one, and both p. tties were especial favourites, whilo for brilliancy and magnitude it was to be the affair of the sea=on. Gifts of every description poured in upon the J'oung couple, for whom their fiiends seemed unable to do enough to manifest thtir regard for them. ' Mamma, I have silver and china enough to set up four establishments ; what shall I do with it all ?' Gladys laughingly remarked one morning, after the armal of numerous packages and c ises. ' While as for jewellery, bric-a-brac, and ornaments,' she continued, ' 1 shall never have room nor opportunity to display them all.' ' You have been mo-t lavishly remembered, dear,' returned Mrs Huntress ; but she sighed while she smiled over the evidences of her daughter's popularity, a« she thought of the care and responsibility which it would entail upon her in the future. 'It is very, very nice to be remembered by one s friends, and pleasant to know that one has so many,' Gladys said, thoughtfully taking up a delicate vase, which rude handling would have crushed to atoms, but which she knew represented a large amount of money, ' but if they would only give me some simple token, just to show that they really caie for me, I should not feel quite &o overwhelmed. Perhaps lam too sensitive and national, bnt I think the weight of obligation which is sometimes imposed upon brides is almost frightful, that is, ii nles 1 ! they marry - as I am not doing — men who cau enable them to indulge in similar extravagances in return later on.' ' There is a good deal of sense in what you say, Gladys,' returned her mother, ' but these beautiful and expensive thing? represent branches of indubtn , and somebody mu 4 purchase them in order that certain classes of artisans may live. It is hard to know where to draw a line in these things. It would not be so questionable, though, if people would be really honest in their gift? and" offer only what they could afford, instead of trying to outdo others from a feeling of vanity. 1 ' But, in spite of these practical discussions, there seemed to l?e no end to the accumulation of wedding gitts up to the last moment. The wedding-day dawned a bright, mild winter morning, and every hour was filled with preparations tor the important ceremony that was to occur early in the evening. Geoffrey saw but little of his betrothed that day, for he had many duties to attend to relating to their departure, and last instructions to receive regarding the business he had undertaken. But about two in the afternoon he came home and found Gladys just going to her room, from which she would not come forth again until Bhe was prepared for her marriage. 4 1 am only just in time, I perceive, to take leave of Jlis<s Gladys Huntress,' he said, smiling fondly upon her, as he drew her into tne munic-room, and shut the door, for a few moments prhate chat with her. 4 You not look more than sixteen,' he continued, touching the light rings of hair that lay on her forehead and smoothing the great ?atiny braid that had been allowed to hane, like a schoolgirl's, down her back, until the hair dresber should come, 'and very little as if a few hours would make you somebody's — wife.' Gladys flushed at that word, though a happy little laugh rippled from her lips. • Perhaps I shall appear more matronly by »nd by,' she said. 'It is possible that putting ' Mrs ' before my name may make quite a .change. How queer it will seem to be married and yet be Gladys Huntress still ?' Geoffrey's face clouded, and a pang shot through his heart. ' I 'vish it c uld be otherwise, darling — I wi^h had an honoured name to give you,, he said regretfully. Gladys put up her hand and drew down his head until their lips met. ' Dear Geoff, forgive me,' she pleaded in a tone of self reproach, ' I was very thoughtless to make such a speech, I shall be jusfc as happy to be called Mrs Geoflrey Dale Huntress as anything else - my pride will not consist in my name, but in my husband.' His arms closed about her more fondly. He knew that she loved him with all the strength of her pure and noble natuie — that she had chosen -hun from among the many admirers who would gladly have bestowed a proud name, as well as fortune, upon her, and that he ought to be content. But he was not ; it rankled, like a thorn in his heart, that he had no name to give he r — that for want of one he was compelled to assume hers. Neither he nor Gladys had ever been told of her adoption ; both believed that f-he was August and Alice Huntress' own child, and, somehow, a feeling of obligation that was almost degradation would now and then assait him, that he vraa obliged to identify himself in this way. 'Geoffrey,' Gladys continued, seeing the cloud still'on his fade, ' do not allow so slight a thing to cast a shadow over our joy to-day. lam so happy— life looks so bright to tne, that I am almost afraid it is all a dream, and I shall wake up to find it all gone from my grasp." He could not resist her bright, tender face, nor the beautiful, trustful light in her eyes as they were raised on his.

' ftjy own love, '.he replied, his fuco clearing, 4 it is no dream to either of us — it is all a delightful reality, and anticipation of the happiness before us, during the coining six months, is ifc lite a poem to me. But,' he added, ' I suppose I must not detain you here — have you everything that you need or wish for to-night ?' 1 1 believe so ; but truly, Geoff, I wish it were all over,' Gladys confessed, clinging to 1 him. * Sometimes I have been sorry that we agreed to have all this fuss and exciteanent—l feel as if the occasion is almost too sacred for the gaze of the curious, and to be mixed up so with show, dress, and so many other petty details, tf we could only have just a few of our especial friendb with us, and say our vows quietly and solemnly, right here al homo, 1 believe I should like it much better.' This had been Geoffrey's feeling all along ; but it was Mr Huntress' desire to have a brilliant wedding, and he could not iind it in his heart to oppose any reasonable wish of one who had been so kind to him. ' Well,' he answered, 'we can comfort ourselves with one thought, tho ' fus& and excitement' will not lat-b long, then wo bball have each other all to oursi Ives. But, darling, see here,' he drew a tiny case trom his pocket, and, opening it, discovered a heavy golden circlet resting in its bod of velvet ' have you any idea how strong this little fetter is going to be ?— only death will ever break the tie that it will cement. Gladys bent forward to look at the mystic symbol, the vivid colour burging to her brow. 'Oh, Geoff! what a heavy one; is it marked V' she paid, ' Yes, and that is why I show it to you — it may not be marked in a way to please you,' and beheld it towards her for examination. ' Please take it out yourself and let me see — 1 do not want to touch it/ she &aid, drawing slightly away. He laughed. • Why, you dear litt'c goose ! are >ou superstuious?' *N— o but fcomehow I do not wibh to touch it until after you have put it where it belongs, she answeied softly. He removed it from tho ea-ac, holduig it so that she could .see the engraving on Us inside surface, and the lead, 'G. 1). to G. H. Dec. 30, 18—' ' G. L>. !' she repeated, looking up que^tioningly. ' Yes,' he replied, gravely. ' Forgive me for referring again to an unpleasant topic, but I could not bring my mind to add another ' H,' there. If I hau time, then I will have the initial in&cited — you «cc I have had space left for it. Do you minrt ?' ' No, Geoff,' Gladys returned, after a moment's thought, though her heart sank at his woids, as she remembered what Evo et Mapleson had told her, ' you have done perfectly right to mark the ring as you wish, and", no one, save ourselves, ever need know anything about it.' He put it a«ay with a sigh of relief. 'I am glad that you approve dear,' he said, smiling, "and now' mind that your glove is prope ly arranged, and no other ring on tins my special finger ; for this ring must never come off after I have once put it on, unless we find another initial to add to the others. Now, good-bye, lo\e, for the next tliree hours. I shall not bee you again until we meet at church.'