CHAPTER VI.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11635, 16 March 1901, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER VI.

"BUBLKIQH HOUSE, BY STAMFORD TOWN. "Fame vanishes, gold melts; Love alone remains." — Old Play. Sir Gay Wyverne pleased himself much with the bright future his fancy drew. He had long si ace read the romantic story of Lord Barleigb, and it had fallen to his lot to love one as pure, guileless, and unworldly as the simple maiden wh^ found herselt mistress of Burleigh House. Magdalene had no idea of his rank and wealth — to her ho was Goy Wyvtrne, poet, artist, and lover. Life w*s was not fall of prosaic detail for the girl who bad fancied she heard the bluebells ringing in the wind. It wus rather calm, smiling and bright as the glistening unknown seas that led to the isles of the blessed. She had been such a happy, simple child, living among her birds and flowers, surrounded by the poetical and chivalrots legends of a grand old race, nurtured on poetry ani romance. She lenew something o*" poverty. Mm Charltou was poor, but it was elegant poverty ; they had very little money, still they lived in a nice house, furnished before the decay of the family became rain ; birds, flu were, and suashioe beautifying it. Their expenses' were small, and Mrs Cbarlton's income was so adroit ably proportioned as to cover them, and leave a small balance. Magdalene understood that if she wanted a costly silk dress she could not have ifc ; bt>t that snch a thinur could be as the rate-collector or the batcher to call for money* aDd call in vain, she did not understand. *Gay has no money,' she said to herself over and over again ; , 'they should be very poor ; but what stern realities poverty implied she little knew or dreamefl. It is so seldom the young, the happy, the loving look life in the face — to them it is a smiling, golden, hopefal future : others iiavt* cares, but they will escape ; others have sorrows, but they dream of shunning them. So Magdalene Charlton saw before her a bright sunny sea in which she, with her young lover, was to embark, and they were to have favoring gales, soft fragrant breezes, and no storms. She saw nothing of the black cloud, no bigger yet than a man's hand, that was in time to darken the sea, and cause the little barque to founder. Gay bad never intended to deceive her. He bad never deliberately said to himsetf that be would woo her as a poor man, and then dazzle her with his wealth. Unconsciously enough tba idea shaped itself to his mind. He found it so sweet to be loved for himself, so pleasant to listen to Magdalene's plans for the future ; how he wa9 to always write sweet, musical verses foil of love and happines?, and she was to preside over a pretty little home, and be so careful of everything, so managing and economical. He liked the earnest, loving expression of the beautiful face, the dainty movements of the graceful whit? hand as sho made one plan after another for his welfare. A peculiar- emileused to cross his face as be thought of tho splendors of Haddon, and wondered what stately room*, lightened and brightened by the lovely face aud goUen bead. Home would b,ave been heaven to him with Magdalene by his side. One morning they had a long discussion about th© name of a flower. Guy gave it one designation, Magdalene another. To Fettle the matter satisfactorily, they referred to an oU botanical dictionary, Ijiti* in the library of the Dower House. When that question was settled, Guy looked at a number .of (olios, booki, and old engravings that had been placed on tho upper shelf of tho bookcase, seemingly forgotten. It was a warm morning — so waim that even the birds seemed too lozy to siug. Puiple butterflies drooped their win^s o?<?r tlw roees ; bees setiled comfortably in the golden hearts of the

lilies, and forgot th»»t the bn>*in' ss of their lives mast be honey making. There was a clea r , gray mist in the air, through which the sun shone «o warmly that natnre seemed to He languid and h -1p1e33. The library was a low, pleasant room; the windows, reaching from ceiling to fljor, were shaded by wild rnses ani woodbines ; rich sprays of odorous flowers camo peeping in gently, siinreti by the warm breath of the sout ; » wind. 'It is more pleasant here,' «aitl Guy, *than out in the garden. We have a long morning before us*, Magdalene. Let ns spend it in looking ov*r these old folios ; there is nothing I enjoy so much.' She was pleased at the idea, and he placed the little stand in the window, and drew a chair near it for her. Then she looked so ioveiy in her simple white morning dress, a slight flash on her peerless face, the golden hair drooping over her fair n?ck, co lovely in the framework of trailing woodbine, that he could not n-frain from telling her sn, and, sitting down by her side, he made love to her all over again. «I thought,' sho sani, shylj, '*c were going to look over these folios of mamma.-, Gay V 'I had forgotten them,' he said.' •Magdalene, I wonder if you will always \ drive everything from my mind, as you do now.' j •I hope not,' she said, seriously *If ; I do, what will become of your poetry? j and then, what will become of us ?' I •There is no fear,' be replied. *You are to me the sweetest poem I <*v<r wad. While yon are near inspiration can j never fail me ; but we will look \ krougU the folio?.' They were soon laughing heartily at comical sketches and c«ricatnrt»», and | all kinds of artistic oddiiiea ; th»»u came beautiful bits of woodland scenery taken from the Croome Woods, sketches from the Hall, and delicious littta views takfn from d ffurent parts of Elmslie. 'These are my brother's drawings/ said Magdalene ; 'be has on** #reat master passion-,, an«J it is the (i-sire to regain Croornei He loves ifc as some men love their wives. He w -uH be content to spenl a whole lifetime in haid work, and never know one bonr'a j amusement 80 as to call Croowe oura once again .' 'A man with a grand purpose,' said Sir Guy. •And also a grand man,' continued Magdalene. 'I love him so dearly, and ana so proud of him. I long for the time when yoa will know him, and tave him, too. There is a picture of him somewhere here — one that General j Wynne brought from India when he came.' •Who is Gerald Wynne ?' ask«d Sir Gay, looking op with a saddetf, jealous j fear. There was neither blush nor confnsion on the sweet face raised to his, neither hesitation nor embarrassment, as she replied : •He is my brother Archie's great friend ; he bes been in the same regiment with him ever since he joined it. When be cama over to England for bis health, Archie sent him here, and he loves mamma and me very much.' f •That is not to be wondered at,' replied Sir Guy, impatiently. 'Pray, may I ask if you returned the compliment by loving him V 'We liked him very much indeed,' she replied, so frankly that Guy was ashamed of bi9 own half formed suspicion. Still, lw wished to be perfectly satisfied. •Was he a lover of yours ?' he asked. A burning flash overspread h«r face. 'A lover of mine I' she exclaimed. 'Oh, no, Gjy ! I never had one before you came. You are the only lover I have ever had.* There was such a simple, child-like, earnest grace in her manner and words that Guy bent down and kinsed her. •My darling,' he said, 'I must feel mad ever to' be jealous of you.' She knew of the fact that Gerald Wynne had completely lost his heart to her, and would have asked her to be his wife, but that Mrs Charlton said she was too young for anything of the kind, and would not even allow the word" love to ba mentioned to her. She did not know that the young lieutenant was wild about her — that he aud her brother B|ent the long hours of the

Indiku night in talking about her aud planning that brilliant future when Croome should belong to the Charltons again, and Magdalene should be wooed aad won by Gerald Wynne. She knew nothing of all thic, and spoke in perfect good faith when* she declared she had had no lover save Sir Gay. 'I am impatient for yon to know Archie,' she continued. 'You have some traits of character that remind me of him ; and you will love him, Guy , will you not ?' •I am sure to do that/ he replied ; and there cama to him no warning of the time when Archibald CHarlton , ihoald stand before him, demanding, with threatened face, to know what he had done with bis fair afcter. : They found his portrait, and Sir Gny liked the face. It was both baudsomo and noble. Captain Archie was no "barber block." He was a grand man, of the leonine type, tall, stalwart, and ' magnificently built, with a broad, , square brow, round which hid hair full iin loosp, wavy locks. His eyes were of | the deepest bine — clear, trne, and fear- ; less. There was a great resemblance to Magdalene. The firm lips, shaded by the heavy moustache, were like hers, and oouid smile as sweetly. There was » picture, too, of Gerald Wynne, who had a dark, Spanish-iook-fing face, with proud, «ad eyes, and grave, sweet lips. Sir Gay looked long |at both, never dreaming of how they > woold oue day flame in hot anger before him. Suddenly they had come upon a 1 series of engravings that had evidently | formed portions of an pld book — illus1 trations of the different family mansions | belonging to the chief nobility of England — and among them Sir Gay saw Haddon Hall. He glanced cursorily through them all, asking her. some slight questions f& to her opinion of each one. Then, almost breath les3 with agitation, he placed the engraving of Haddon Hall iv her hand, and asked what she thought of that. •I have seen the place,' he said ; 'in face, I have been to it, and was quite charmed/ That gave additional interest to the picture. She bent over it admiringly. •How grand ! how beautiful !' she cried. 'I like Haddon better than any I place I hare seen. What a, noble old wood.' His fbce beamed with pleasure ; bat he spoke no word. She bent overdue paper in silence. Looking at her suddenly, wondering why she was so still, he saw that the fair face had grown white as death, and the violet eyes were fixed upon the picture with a strainod gaze of horror. At the name moment ahe shuddered as one seized with mortal old. •Magdalene, what is it? 1 he cried. ! *Are you ill, my darling ?' She recovered • herself with a violent effort, and raised her blanched face to his. •No, I am not ill.' she replied. 'I am only nervous. Do yoa know /that strange shivering, cold horror that seizes one at times — a shiver that seems to begin at the heart ?' •A sensation that old women declare to be a foreboding that some one is walking over your grave? 1 he interrap ted. 'Yes,' she said, trying to smile. 'You will think me very foolish, Guy ; but, as I looked at this picture, the same horrible shudder and horrible fear came over me.' % He Paid the heat of the sun had unnerved her, and he made her lie down to rest iv the cool, fragrant shade. In an hoar's time she was heraalf again, and had forgotten her fears.