A HEART'S IDOL.

Thames Star, Volume XX, Issue 4663, 14 July 1888, Page 1

A HEART'S IDOL.

I bt beetha m, clay, v ;■;•».;:

Author of •• TheSGipsy's Daughter," '• Ano- ; therJVlai^svWife,'VAc, &c. ;,

CHAPTE^XXP^

" FEROL I-MViLOtE'IMY'DARtING,! 1'

i In the closet 'WHere^'Ferbl.fiid.'-'Jb'ung. the :liooa and sfiawr of thVsejimstress.", The old wdmah cameiWatche^d these'from the peg,.took^Ferol's hand in ltße <:darliness, and ■■ wH snerintr, " Softly.'now, ;fo;r. your life!" she clattered, \dpyin [ tfie!; dark,, T stair-way, making a-noiseJ'tb IcpyefTetolV!soft I > stepß. [ The key received from the sleepy, drunk MisV:Crosj)y/*'uAloQkie ld'(jtfie^kitchen door. The dead latch' fastened'it*as it closed behind them, and Ferol and her deliverer';were"in the^st^eet. -^ !,^ ; \ " Corae, come !"^crieJ3 -Ferol, below her breath.. " o|i can,,you rim ? Cau.,.y'jou ''hurry, .and>,get me far from this horrible !place?'"-r::::-:v 7: .rr- ■rr;~T::r-:;:'; •" We will try" it,"-said theidame; " give me your arm.' The 'riighiKis cold, child, and yo'ii''hay(B" t^o,fiarpr"lih^i'l'X' „..-,• ' " Ne.jr.e^ mju3 ;^c^m^on'^pbly. jcoine!" cried Ferbl. " ' ' ''^'"^'^^•"mw' .*;'-'-' They hurriedfalot^j stce^j aitter v The old woman gave Ferol a ginghaml a4 \i pron to tie over herhead. j., . . ".« 1■ - 1 1 ''Pull it well abou,t;your face, jchild,!so. people will not stare,at "such beauty, as..-, yours, outiffthrwightwrth only a" poor did" ' protector like me.* * 'I his >vay, my dear. Now here—l must go to the Walsingham Concer| Hall for my^Cora..: They're done I at eleven, and I never fail to wait for her and bring her. homev'l'mjcareful of ,Cora;i.i she's agoodgirlj and pretty. Yourememr>; her Cora?" % , ... „ , ..;

; '.' Indeed I ckC She isvery .iiwe'et^sflid. . Ferol. „ ,■,,,./ .... w . v , ; -: ■•'.">•■.■"-.■.'-'■•. :" . ;" Last night I was siclc.'aiid, I did let a young man that admires'her bring her . home. But 1 bargained he was not to be seen at the hall, or. near it, for a week-" , ' " You are so good !'* burst out Ferol, as v they, hurried-along, "so good to take me,: lout of that dreadful .prison. How-can I i thank you ;;;,' Where wiilyou take -me to- -,; night ?. Oh, I must tell you all about it.'' . "I heard all you said to that cruel wo-, man this morning. E remembered your * voice. It went to my heart. Only I could not quite'placeit until Tsaw'your face^and ■■• then I knew—l remembered what I *said* :to you the'day :you were; so good -to' Cora .and me—that perhaps the Lord would send me the,means.: of returning your goodness."" v ' " „.'/ ,';',;.:,.- v _ _„,, ■ l( ,-,. ;' „ |"And so he has," sobbed Fero^ ''sp'much for so little..''- - ...-„.^^... n ..^,.5.5.'.L'*..1,^'',..''..,.,. ....,,. ' "You mind,the.wofd^ m iss, 'past thy bread upon the waters,-for thoti'shalt find it after many days." It often comes so : and th?e-tiountiful soul isblessed. v You shall go home with nic and Cora to-night, arid;to'-mbfrow/ rmorning I'll look xip vou'r friends." ■'■'^'r;;:-':- ■•':7-1- ' *»•". '-. ~"-V\ »p v iThey were shortly after at the side of-the: i!> concert hall, and presently Cora came:down ■ ! wrapped in a big black-cloak. \' -5i •: *• "You're late, granny ; I looked for you -.« at; the* door twicei;'Oh,' but^l'ni dead ■tired ! The people encored me, and I had to; go back twic^.'^Oh'yl am : so'tired.;! Why, granny, you are" hot alone!"' *t w ■ ," It isu poor girl, Cora^that Miss Crosby was very cniel> to, . au<3.j I'ye', helped; her away, jand I 'shall never go bacli .to ,work there more.'' . ■"' ; ; .-,,.-. .^v'- -A-."'■-,.-y."t;. ■;«■■;; - ■■'■■ « Turk that Crosby is ! She nearly froze and starved me, ( and tweaked my, ears, and , wrapped.. rii.Y,Mknuckles I 'I ?; detest' h"er^'l^.!'" But there was,nowhere, r elsci where,l couli j learn the little I hadtokno^v so cheap, an^. ■where-:you;;Cou.ld\.Bew'it.ou'V-granny./i'1. M .,... don't mind ; it had to, be; done, arid now,"; .' if youjbare /.been able to spite=Hereby carry-; £ ing * '6ff this "girlji w^'re^cfuits^and 'rTm~*& fglad.'..;;- ,; , r: ,: ;!V -■;\ : . J .'. ■. v:/■;;.; ;; .. '.' It was not'fbr spite f did it; child.''

i I'JSo, gran. There's ho spite in you, but it comes just as pleasant tome to think how-it,, will gall , ,her 1 .".^Herp r . we ire, gran / Now 'your arm ; I itnbwF four flights of, : -stairs,make t^ "'i; 1 hey were lip atl^kCuDin the two tidy little rooms," and ' Cora Struck a■' light.* ■'■* When she did so, she turned with a girl's curiosity to the 'refugee;*; " Why my life V\\ she exclaimed* f'Granny Jit is.,the lovely,,. ; darling young lady, who helped us by the V, riTer. And; -you're'all in 1a" ehi^erV poor ■ dear !thing,' an^ how "sicK v you look-!;'' Granny, she must^avea "warm drink andfi' be IpHt'intd bed quick!" \ ?ff »■? .r v .=, In fact, from her long grief and hUrd- : -/c. shipSjsthe.excitement-and chilL,of a.damp v i raw, night, poorjFerpl was,.quite' ibrpkeo . down, ..and ;could only yield helplessly ; to ' ' 7 ;; the cares of Cora, : :;wh'o^fo^6^Her;io\|ra',.. &i-'^ wearinessjin waitin^iYpbp the^fair'strangerl -■* ! In - the Hinorning;OFerol was Ioomill:to be? T able to give'and directipnsjtbiher; rescuers> r : j. Bu^,<3ora^ : Lee%as> L bi:ig|u^ijjrl.:>i§he;bad \ ';'■■; sedn^Ferol r-enter ;^aineron^Ljdge^ a^d,^; she remembered tpeinanie* o^^merpn^jn»/'' connection r w|th Ci 'Vgipj who ihad d|sapeaiy i,;,^ ■

i^.i-rLeaving^Ferolvto the care of,the old woman.she set off for the Lodge. She found the place closed. ' ! -' "Aftera time,'she suw apersori. in'an'ad-* jacent garden, who said the family were at* - the town house of Earl Somebody, io Belgrave district, or somewhere. Cora Lee returned to report her ill sue-

cess. "And gran, I stopped to speak with . Charles Thorp to help us, but he is off for a week,' the landlady of the house says';' gone away up country—painting 1 suppose '< ~the goose !- -He can't, paint to sell! Why does he not get work he can do? I believe it is that cross, -fierce-eyed woman, who makes him act so.'' ''■" -'• • ■ „ . *' lam glad yotr did not find him, child, and you must go to him no more, on any' r excuse. He is loud enough in making love j to you, but when did he speak of mari> rlage?" " He is poor, granny," said Cora, blusht ; ing, and looking down. 14 He might yet speak up honest intentions, child ; say no more to him, till you know he has a good name to offer you, and ..offers it honest like." "But, what about the young lady, gran?!' demanded Cora, boldly turning the, subject , of conversation/,". ',:.].■- ' :&:fl'-" We f will'see to her untns,he,.can tell us f'-wfiafto-^d'oj'and wtie're to 'look/ It is just gentle nursing and vest she wants, and a peaceful mind."l'll Bring lair about in a few *? gays;*.and you andtj pora.- will knit a few H tndre * socks rind' hoods; to do" what we should for her.' 1 . Several days passed, and Perol justified the old dame's expectations. Sbe grtw better, and accepted contentedly what was done; for her, the good' woman deferring further inquiries untiL.the girl was stronger. ... Old Mrs -Leß had been one--morning -to { carry home-her knitting work;to the.bazaar 5 Which employed her. r*wh'en as "shVrea'ched ' her room, a step sounded behind her^ and on the threshold, as she turned, she saw a tall, broad-shouldered;gentleman smiliog down.from dark brqwri eyes upon her. ; " What! don't you know me, Dame Lee?V .'■-•.:■' ! "Mercyblessrne! * If it^ isn't my own dear Mr Guy! Grown .to" 1 a man, sir! Oh, good luck be with' you, and what a handsome man you rare, and as kindly smiling as ever you were when a lad at Eton! f "Andyou used to bake;eakcs\and cook secret oysters for us. Dame Lee ! Where *.•», hav.e^youjhidden.al!.. these-ye.arsJWl have looked for you. I heard you had trouble!" "So.I did, my lord,' said the dame, clinging to his hand, which'she had kissed fervently, and now patting and smoothing his coat sleeve—" So I did I I signed for my nephew, and lost my shop and all. Cora, my son's child supports me, sir ; but it is by dancing and singing at a ball, and she so pretty and young, it goes to my very heart for fear 1" •• We'll mend all that, dame," said Herncroft. "I knew you the minute I saw you in the street here. You. were so good; to me when I was a little, lonelyJadjmy first year at Eton I" "Bless you, my dear ! Do you miml how I nursed you through the measles! What a pickle you were ! No sooner did I get the bed-.clothes straight, than-'up, went your legs, and the clothes flew to the ceiling I I never saw such,active, legs. as yours, Mr Guy 1? But, hark'jtome talking so free to you, and you grown into a great lord, or duke, I hear !>' * .■-. - , ■■ :< '• I like it, mother ?" laughed Heracroft. " Come now ! I cannot stop. I'm busy on a sad errand. Take this,ten pounds, and keep yonr child off'the concert stage'; arid a „little,while I.mll J pee,..what.canjbe done for, you'both. You know fyou saved my life when I was at Eton ?" " Bless you for, the kindest heart! But, my lord; will-you^bide just a minute? It is neither Cora nor me that is in so much ; .need:.just! now for help and a friend; asa dear young angel that I have saved from a cruel prison place,; and she is sick: Some one had taken her from her friends, and locked her up in a cruel school, just like a 'jail.""' I'triok her out, a week past." She's in the next room. She is sitting up, in my : great chair, asleep. If you will just take a, • look'in'there,'fny,lord, you'll- tell me how. to help ;her, and ho.w'tofind her friend's ; for she's a lady' born and bred, rarid J she cannot get,on as Cora and I do.". ; '' So saying, the garrulous old dame opened the door to the next room, and there, fair as a snow-drop,'leaning back,asleep; in the" dame's flowered-chintz chair, lay Ferol, be-; ifore.the amazed eyes of. Herncvoft! With aery, he flung himself towards' the beautiful sleeper, clasped her to his bosom, kissed her closed,eyes, her pale cheeks, and golden hair, crying: " Ferol! ray love ! my;dearest! my life ! my darling I my, heart's idol!"

\ chapter; xxxi.. „ 1 .„ ," THiT IS —TUB,-MYSXEKY." :

„ When.Ferol was called out of that deep, ■ life-restoring sleep by the passionate words and caresses off Lord Herncrott, it seemed to her, for" the instant, that a whole heaven of peace, safety, and hope had surrounded her with bis^rms.^ r , r 4,1 . fi <''' Bat qaickf.upte this thought came that ferrible'reaifzatidi?th'at'-liis'love and protection ,were not for her, and that ;in him lay,her greatest'danger.. She-struggled from him,, crying: ... /.-.'•. - ■.:i,n. " '"'Oh, Lord .Herncroft, spare me this ! Do not take: : advantage, of ,my 1 misfortunes !">' lf -^-■''■■ '• ' •'-'' t _ o.He •-released her afconce, but still kept his hand on her arm as he said : "Ferol, child,'what a.long agony we have had about you ! We have sought you everywhere. .Where did you go ? How ? lYhy.? ..Tell nic all." ',' P'|Then" they are not angry..with,.me I They did not send me away ? They love mo.still!"/ ;.,-', • - - „, s ;,'-. - . ■'■" 'We.alMove you devotedly," said Guy, with quite Unnecessary fervor.' "Send you away ! We have searched day and night. The colonel —I mean the earl —has offered rewards ;so have I. Lois has been very ill of grieving ;_now v ßheis better, and with Lady Cameron, is bending all her energies to seeking.yott. Where .have you been?" "I Svas deceived away'by V story that Lady Cameron, was ill and had, sent' for me. -La^-" 11' ' ; She stopped. Lady Sara'was the sisler of: her benefactress.' She'would spare her.' ■■". :' l v '• •'■■ " If you please, I will tell the story only to Lady Cameron; and she will make" it public or not. v All I need now say, Lord Herncroffc, is, that I was taken to a very dreary, but "very safe place—and there I' remained''uritir she brought me here;* * I haye fbeen!safe, but very, very'".sad ; and most sad because I could^ not let my friends know how gratefull was',.and how I.loved them, If you would let Lady .Cameron kriow^ "■'-.;\;. 5 :;■.';' "V ;„' ; " "'I shall take .you to her. at,once! cried 1 L&frGuy,";{ : ;■'■■";■../,.','•- '• . ' '^Blessher/slices too feeble," interposed

v -''-No, no.- I could go to the ends of the earth only to see dear Lois !" exclaimed Ferol, earnestly. "" " LetTher" go," gran,""cried ,Cdra, who',~ with a girl's natural interest in a love affair, had beheld the,ardor of Herncioft ;~''joy will cure.the young lady, I'm sure." " Wait for,me here a little," said Herncroft. ." Dame: Lee, guard her like diamonds. She is the crown jeNvel 4 of' ivy life :''.and he dashed away. In a short time he returned, followed by a servant' bearing a tray with a dainty breakfast. " Eat this,'' be commanded, " and wait for me." t • Ferol had eaten her breakfast and retired for some little time, feeling new life in all her veins, in her new joy of safety, when Herniroft returned again, with a servant carrying .boxes. ' Guy opened these boxes ' with a boyish glee, and took out a dress, a furred cloak, and a wide velvet hat with a drooping plume. "Put these on her, dame," he said. "A caariage is at the door; get ready to accompauy Miss Ferol to Cameron Lodge. Have no concern for your affairs after this Dame LeeV J charge myself with you and your granddaughter. You have befriended her whom most I love/ „ He retired io. the -next room, and as Cora acted as dressing-maid to Ferol, she kept a,fire of comments on the " splendid lover,'' "so handsome,'.,'so generous,'.'" so devoted." ; „',.' The more she said, and the more Lord Guy took possession of her in this open, masterful way,','the more'poor Ferol trembled for her.future.\ Ah}.the bitter secret of her fate ! Why was she thus hurried' on from danger tofdanger, from terror • to terror ? "•"She was a lovely image when Cora" led a.her to the waiting Herncrofl. T,he, black satin dress, the ermine-furred black cloak, that hat plume drooping low against "her golden hair—that hair vapory, and gleaming' in babyish rings about her dainty, snowy brow. „ No wonder Herncroft bowed to the spell of beauty,- as he took her hand and kissed it, whispering : . < : ." My. queen;! My queen -!" < '* .< - - (To be continued.) ," ' -