"A SECRET SORROW."

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8605, 9 March 1897, Page 1

"A SECRET SORROW."

BY MRS MAY AGNES FLEMING.

Author of " A Mad Marriage," " Carried By Storm."

CHAPTER XV. (Continued.)

'I reached the house, an<l was cordially receire) by the host, who li t'e dreamed that a dashing lieutenant itood in the place of Miai Bui ke. Several gentleman paid me particular attention, daring ihe eTening, and one actually proposed. 'I blmhed behind roj fan, and referred him to pap*, fiat I see you're laughing at me, so I'll modestly pass over that part of the evening's adventures. ' When the dancing was at its height, I chanced to pa*s the diuia^-room, and, wing it dewrt*!, I Umwiht I BWcht a» well ko >.. and help nty»»!f to aglas* of wine. I did so; but scarcely .had I entered when I heard,a footstep behind me I drewtiback in o the shadow, and, a moment aftecoa tall, thin young fellow —a lieutenant* inl^ the regiment—for whom I bad long felt a particular sole, entered, followed by * .servant. , ' . 'Her?,' said the officer hasti'y, handing the man a note, 'do you know where to find a Miss Mary Ann O'Brien in the dancing-room ?' '

* Yes,' said the servant. ' I saw her dancing there a minute ago.' ' Give her this, then,' said the lieutenant, 'and lose no time.' • Both went out, and I soon followed. As I entered the hall, 1 noticed the note lying on the ground, where the fellow had probably dropped i*. I picked it up, and, without thinking how mean the act was, opened and read— 'My Darling Maby Awic,—Meet me in the garden immediately. A carriage is in wa ting, and the parson is ready to make you mine.—Your devoted • Georgk Browk.'

• Id an instante»ery consideration was lost in the one desire of selling the: lieutenant, who had often laughed at me Hastily stealing away to the dressingroom, I donned a bonnat and cloak, putting the latter on wrong side oat in 017 haste, and,, hiding nay beautiful face behind a thick veil, I »ipped out to; the garden unnotic d— ■ . ' I looked around, but no one was to be seen. At length a h»ad p otuded from behind some gooseberry bashes, and the Toice of the lieutenant whispered—

1 My love, is that you ?' ' Faith, I've my doubts whether it is or not,' thought 1. ' Then, raising my voice to a whisper, I answered— - •Yea.' lln a moment the ardent lover sprang forward, and, catching me in his arms, pressed me to his heart, with such force that I was nearly stranded. 'By Jove!' thought I,' what ribs Mary Ann must have, if she can stand that.' „ • I knew you would come to. your own George,' continued'the lover,: 1? my eOttl'a idol, my heart's treasure, my darling, my beautiful Mary Ann. Oh! my love, how happy we will'be when the parson makes us one.*' " :;i ■■ • --: '■' • :-'. : ■ :■■,.

'There's no doubt of that,' thinks I to myself mothering with a langhtor, and shaking so that I began to fear I'd burst the hooks and eyes off my dress. My inward convulsions, however, were set down to quite another cause by my ardent admirer, who, pressing me once more to his bosom, for I was too weak with laughter to resist, exclaimed, soothingly— • Maty, my an el, my adored one, never tremble so; there ia no danger now, the carriage ia waiting, and we shall aoon be s»fe. Come, my beloved.' 'The lieutenant drew my arm within his, and handed me into the coach; and giring the word to the driver, off we went at break-neck spe=d. As the absurdity of the whole affair burst upou me, sundry hysteric grunts of suppressed laughter burst from me, while the seat >hook with my inward convulsions. • ■! • Oh. my love, weep not!' said the lieutenant, setting down my agitation te maiden timidity. 'But all his efforts were in vain. I only shook thi more -I wa«, in fact, inconsolable. > 'At length we reached the church; bt lover led me to where the parson stood, and I should soon have been Mra Brown but at this interesting moment in rushed Tim; breath'ess with haste. ' Och, master dear, for the love©, heaven' it's not goin' to be married ye areP Oeb; whillain miellien. morther, it it a runaway match ye's made of HP Bad scran to ye, ye ihafe of the world! he added, fiercely, to the astousded lieutenant, ' is it'lopin wid the masther ye are P Arrah! Miather Maurice, is it trjm* to danave ye they are V ''" . •Faith! it's very like, 1 said I, rawing my veil, and turning to the lieutenant, who uttered a cry of surprise, exclaiming, as he etasgered back— '.'' . ','', ' Good heavens! Maun* Fitzgerald. •At your service, sir.!,said I, bowing. •I hops you'll'bea lit t'e more sure of your came the next time you try to run away with a lady. Oi» m conscience, I'm afruid ill lose my leputat on if this is heard of. Givo my love to jour adored Mary Ann, and much good may you do ' co sayins, I turne i away, followed by Tim. not, however, m.til 'c had shaken his fist fiercely in the li v enanfs face exclaimed— : - ". ■.-'■"■ •Ay ye dare to say pays. lil nof. leave a whole in your dirty c«case!' ' The aio y soon got wind, and 'lie luckless lieutenant me with such a shower of ridicule wherever he want, that he changed to a regiment ordered for 'oreign service; and I have never heard of him since. As for me, I became the lion of Galway after that, and soon after cut the lenth, and joined the dragoons. So that wa« my elopement P«i- a, I nerer came a near being made a wife of snce.' A roar of laughter followed the con* elusion of the dragoon's story, in Which he himself heartily joined. • You had a narrow escape from matnony that time,' said Sir Harry. 'I presume you were a great favourite with the ladies afier that P* ■ ' Oh I a waya was that! said Fitzgerald coolly. ' The dear little souls like ixw pUdence as the worst of us. And ■peaking of impudence reminds me that old Magee hasn't invited me to his dinner party to-day. He's sent you an invitation, of course, Charley?' __ 'Yes; I believe so. Were yon ever there, Dudley?' A significant shrug and contemp uous ' No,' was the baronet's answer. • It's a psrf ct paradU* «f rotst fowls and champagne,' said Chrlaey. ; • And speaking of paradise reminds me that be'a got a very pretty little niece. Ah, Charley, my dear fellow, you re in in luck there,' observe 1 the dragoon. ' I beg to know why! lam notaware of standing in 'uch high favour in the young ladies estimation. I rather think yon only imaine so,' «No such thing, my boy. The little irl's in love with you, and that same little girl's got the neatest little foot lever clapped ejes on. Really Dudley, it wou'd worth your while tj set acquainted there for the sake of ihe old fellow's neice.'

' Eren that oonsideratioa, Lieutenant Fitzgera'd, cannot iadace ma to risit Mr Mauee, 1 said the adt de-camp, with the moet oeremonious politeness.

1 Ob, wall. then, I'll not for c you. You Enjlnhmen hare torn* queer notions of your own. One wou'd think Charley here was a native—he take* to the Irish so natmaUy. I think it's partly owing o my humbb •Sorts, howerar. lYe acted tlie pai t of dry nu-se to him evvr since he crossed ihe obaooel.'

' Ye«; and, please Pro»idenc\ I'te n#t dooewihycm^t. If I don't indjom back t. knrlaod a genuine Paddy, then Joanuy sty Maaricd EitagertW-ema'l •ep hia word. Oom«, Dud •/. it'« tirae wtw»ro mt the barr^cta. Good d»r to yoaGha le/.' , '■ * And puaiog his arm through Sir Harry a, tbe Jwo soldiera went of. SachwatCha;ley Hiiotf, »noe«tM, and raeh hit oole;e life m Dabtia--* lif«]««i; raited to bin. „ How little did hit frieodt a' Ditrito!* who ,ot en wondered how 'poor, dear Charley oould eodare the ledinm of a »l eg^ know hew Ifr t me w »« ipmt. Alaott arecf mght ovt tiU d«|lyrht, Vent on miwaief; p«jiun« the da> ttivlliar UiroiKh the city, dmi^ fiit^ei; ■ SoehwuChariey 1! life.

I CHAPTERXVI. . . TkaPtoiTsmnuaK. ' ' ' :?: And 'mm we at*** oa*t » «lum» baekwmrd,r«^ rßto ,y ni|thtKafal WM tar^ m the o'd Moor Manor. As erery other ni,?ht wi'l do. whether th« hours go bj «• ro*y wi«gs' or drag oa !#• •«•• »^ »*»7 *M ,w«hi PM«ed. Ihe terrible spectre of thedoomea boa«« came gidin* by like ao evil .■ s4«dow ac ihn uinal boar' and thn KaUtaed profundly quiet until morning. Alice, worn obl and exhaueted bw •D<wt7» I*7 sleeping • deep, dreaml«is sleep. John was snoring •w«t in the cbimneyjcorner, and eren threarl nodded drowsi'y, ' r :' ; . , .■•, ■'■'•" ■ ■■•-•■ ■ ■■■■■ . Or the whole party, Janie was ike only one who sept not. In Tain shastror* to court dumber—it came not; a strange heaviness lay^ on her benrt—« paWimiment of some impending, e« U g ««te, than My she had yet elpenenc^d. huog >4W he^i She stro^ to stifle her prflSfnUoiens 2 fi heir. fwV^ey were s.fe;<lbr J*X»f- l had unbounded oonfidencf in Kate's ability to do as she BTomised. The earl She; reasoned, woi'd l«ave (U nsul, a* daybreak, then Kate won'd quit h-r hid-

BaJ *U waa in rain ; the itraag; dtpreesun of Janie't spirits continued— reMon as she would, the naaeeooatable tear of some impending calamity hung

- J h * FV dawn of twilight came creeping at laat over the moor. The earl arote and, afaabnir off an effort his drowaiaMs thought Jame. . "

; Her prayer seemed in a sair Way of he- »« answered, for gbiog ov.r to John, the earl, shook him roughly, laying— . • Come, wake up, air -I must be going- ' '' ■ ' ■ ■■'■'..■:.

Johnrubbed his eyes and yawned fearfully; then rising, ha walked away likY one half awake from the roo», and aoo» te!»'Jl?s* r6lv l?f dlns the e»ri"« h*ri»>, - saddled and brid'ed, and ready for. Urn ■ road. ;--. *T ''. y-/. "i ''■ '■■■ .;' ■?-;-.:i:-:.-f\—-u

Thaakheavon, murmured Janie, si she saw him mount. 'We shall now soon quit this place.' t But her thanksgiving came too toon: for just at that moraentwheniheimegined all danger over Kate'f horse aeiihed loudly, and Janie's heart sank like Im* in her boscm. J -'■ ' -'

•tartinjj suddenly at the 6»ufiaT^^^ Another loud neigh from the unlucky animal waa hit sole answer. •^0 there did oometomeoae here last nuh»P'said the earl, spriafigf from tl» saddle and cat chin tJobn by the throat; .•aswerme, rillian, or by heaven 111 blow your brains out Where yon stand!* (To be Oontiniied.)