THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER; OR, THE STORY OF A MISTAKE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3350, 3 January 1879, Page 3

THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER; OR, THE STORY OF A MISTAKE.

{Temple Bar.) (Concluded.) "Cursed little brute!" was my ill-timed reply. " You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Algernon," she continued, almost in tears, and rushing to take up the ugly nuisance. Then, as she fondled ifc, she turned and said, " A man would not do such a thing. Mr Martindale would nofc be so cowardly to a poor dumb darling." I said something in reply thafc I fear called down no blessings on the head of Charley or of the poor dumb darling, and I wenfc to fche club. The same evening I had an engagement that prevented my acoompanying my wife to Lady Calmly's rout, but I promised I would meet her at the door. I was after time as usual. It is a fault of mine. As I eagerly pressed my way into the reception-rooms my ear was attracted by the remark, "They are a handsome couple ;" and looking iv the direction indicated by the speaker, my eye fell upon Martindale and my wife— a handsome couple indeed. The words were possibly harmless enough in themselves, bufc in one moment the baleful fire of jealousy was alight. My treacherous friend, how godlike did he look as he poured, no doubt, the honeyed drops of flattery into ears only too willingto receive them. The jewels sparkled on his shapely hand. How I hate a man that, pretending to be a man, bejewels his hands. How bitterly did I repent my blind folly. It is easy enough now '^ yfess that I didn't behave very well. .iy, as has been told, some little annoyance had arisen in respect to that confounded pug. My wife's sense of injury had been augmented by the fact thafc on her arrival at Lady Calmly's entertainment she had had fco find her own way up-stairs. Therefore when she was peevish, ifc must be admitted there was some reaaon. I crossed over the room. I took no notice of Martindale, I briefly asked my wife " to come home oufc of fchis place." " Come home, Algernon ?" she said, opening her eyes and tossing her head ; " are you out of your senses ? Don't you sec Mr Martindale P" " Yes, I see him," was my reply ; " bufc the question is— will you or will you not, Geraldine, come home oufc of this place ?" "Certainly not," was her indignant rejoinder ; what can you be dreaming of ? It is too absurd." "Then I am going," I said, and I left her. On reaching home I would not sit up. I filled a tumbler of sherry and drank it offit would act as a sedative — then to bed. Bufc 1 could not sleep. Afc firsfc I attributed this to the fact that I had retired earlier fchan j usual, bufc soon I began fco perceive thafc a violent fever was raging in my blood, heightened in its virulence by the stimulant of whicli I had somewhat recklessly partaken It was clear, at all events, that I wos seriously unwell ; and shortly after Geraldine returned, doctor number one was summoned. When, however, on his firsfc inspection he decided tbat the responsibility was too greafc — fchafc he must have ihe oid of tliree others like unto himself— ifc became clear fchafc my case was critical in the extreme. So rapid was the rise of the malignant humour in my blood thafc before dawn I had lost my head ; fcho scene and fche people moving before me like some huge and terrible kaleidoscope. The Geeat Change.— lfc must bo borne in mind that all thafc has been so far related occurred whilst I was still in the flesh. flow ifc happens that lam able to describe for the benefit of those yet treading solid earth my experiences of the day after death will shortly be made plain. Of" the dire suffering that terminated my existence I was happily not wholly conscious. I remember the moving forms of physicians, nurses, and last, nofc least, of wife. Of the last moments I have no remembrance whateverj'-nor any sense of the disagreeable surroundings preceding tho act when, coffined, cribbed, confined, my remains, so called, were committed to the tomb of the D'Orsays. Of a sudden, when writhing in pain, a holy calm set in. I awoke, as ifc were, to find myself a spirit and inhabitant of airy space. On noting the time, for we spirits calculate time, as mortals do, by tlie setting of tho sun. I found that my lost experiences wero already six weeks old. -The interval had passed unperceived. I discovered I possessed a form resembling my earthly self, but refined and glorified, and, as might be expected, incorporeal ; whilst from the spot that in an ordinary being would be known as fche shoulder-blades, had : grown a pan* of magnificent diaphonous wings. With these I found I could, with only so much exertion as was pleasurable, '_ ascend or descend at will ; or that expanding them I could sail, hawk-like, horizontally, as I might list, with no effort whatever. The eurreats of air thafc aid and trouble mankind have no existence for us. I say for us, been use this new world was peopled. If numer- ■ ously inhabited, there was room enough for - all. The space above seas and barren moun- : tains was as suitable for our existence as thafc i above the gardens of fche earth. But I dis- ] sovered very soon fchafc fche possibility of over- ] population of this earliest after-world (if so ifc j may be called) need not be contemplated. , Cecil Ambergris, who was drowned some , twelve months before I died, was the first of ■ my old acquaintances that I fell in wifch in ■ my new sphere, and he briefly told me much i

of what I was soon to learn by inquiry and experience. Whilst one single being towards whom love is. felfc yefc remains on earth we spirits make the terrestrial atmosphere our home. But when the that loved one is no longer human ifc is time to wing a flight to another world. Whither no one knows. This also lias a bourne from which no traveller returns. The Rev. Ned Pinkerton, whom, until Ambergris introduced him, I did not recognise ; stupidly, S.T U i e -i. ie llad been curate at Sfc - Dunstan's —Ned Pinkerton here joined us. His death had occurred somewhat before thafc of Ambergris, from visiting fche fever dens of his ancient parish. The Reverend Pinkerton had always been a cynic in talk; and learning the subject of our conversation, observed that it was to be hoped thafc our forefathers had not made for Sirius, as a stern chase is always a long chase, and that 30 miles a second is good going. I have stated that he observed so much .' bufc it must not be inferred tliat there was any actual speech. We communicated fchat winch wehad to say to one another, without words. We communed by looks and brainwaves each learning intuitively that which the other wished to impart. Odd as ifc seemed on in-st experience, tlie advantago of conversing m this manner soon became clear enough. As it is my desire to get back to Geraldine and my talse friend, I cannot here dwell upon the many extraordinary and delightful novelties tiiat encompassed my present estate. In brief, it must suffice to tell fchat the condition was one of utter happiness. One met all the iriends of days gone by ; fchat is, those who had given up the. ghost. Oui* chief pleasure was undoubtedly to visit the scenes peopled by our relatives and friends ; to watch their struggles aud pleasures ; to know that the tormer were only transient, a preliminary to a glorious future ; the latter to be completely overshadowed by the even complacency of our present case. It would seem natural fchafc my first object should be to seek out Geraldine. But this was nofc so. Possibly because we spirits have to live over a«ain fche course of our earthly lives, our earliest incUi nations are fco be witli tho friends of child- . hood. So I first visited uncle Fred ■ and my cousins. How pleasurable ifc was to see their affection, to mark how i in trouble they clung to each other; how, when good fortune came, the cliief desire was that each and all should share therein. And one could smile afc the little vexations that for the moment would overwhelm them, knowing how transient, wliilst useful, these trials are; how closely following upon each cloud is the corresponding ray of sunshine. We learned how goodlminour is nofc so much a gift of the gods as an acquisition of the will ; and that this, of all the good things of the earth, is the most desirable possession. In the peraon of my uncle its benefits were fully exhibited. He of all my relatives made least of trouble, and in consequence care could find no foothold on the smooth armour with which his imperturbable even temper encased him. I could see, now, how much my stupidity must liave annoyed him, and could recognise, and from my soul thank liim for, the consideration that had turned off each reference to disagreeable matters with a laugh. I could indeed appreciate his goodness to his brother's son ; and so with a heart brimming over with kindly emotions, I flew to visit my wee-ping widow. Cadogan place was soon reached. I uasseel noiselessly through fche roof. Everything was unchanged. Here was an assurance of the constancy of thafc divine creature who had held my entire love. It made me feel how cruel had been my own conduct on tlie lasfc ■ day we liad been together. So much ior the domicile of tho bereaved one. Let us visit the drawing-room, and gaze with eraresfc pity on fche most heartrending spectacle fchat the world can offer— a despairing ond desolate woman. There was no lamonfation. The first sound to reach me, on floiting into the room, was a tinkling laugh. Tley who laugh in solitude are to be pitied — tins was my firsfc thought. A life from which love has been blotted out, a life without companionship — if in such a condition merrinienS can have a place, then reason must be tottering to her fall ! But there was another sound, the strident laugh of a man ; Geraldine was nofc alone. Oh, how greafc wa? fche-.agony of that moment when I discovered fchat, instead of wailing in bitter tears her recent loss, my widow was light-hearted, nay, joyful, and in company with — Charley Martindale. My first impulse was to incke my presence known if ifc were possible; my next to wait and listen. I " Come, come Jerry " (thus my false friend ' dared to entitle ny angel) — "come, come i Jerry, this is better. I like to see you yourself once more. .Algernon Frederick Charles is comfortably -under the sod these seven weeks ; peace be to his ashes, say I. Bufc he has already dene me injury sufficient in standing befcwem us and happiness. Don't lefc his shadow divide us ; fche whole world knew you nerer cared for the half-witted youth. Lefc as face ifc out, and go for a drive as of yore. I have ordered the victoria." " But will ifc be right, Charles ?" she answered, timing her lovely face to him. " What— whafc will Mrs Grundy say ?" " Oh, hang Mn Grundy !" was Charley's reply ; "surely you have displayed sorrow enough ■ for oneyou never cared one button about. Think of me. Don't bother your pretty head, Jerry aboufc a fellow vtho could descend to artifbe to gain, nofc your love, but your hand. You know lie lost my fortune intentionally, and then, whilst I was enduring all the hardships of a settler's life, he got round that silly oli lady, your aunt, and proposed to you." "It was rather mean," said Geraldine. _ I could be still no longer. I advanced to divide the perfidious pair. Bufc though I flapped my noiseless wings with all the ' vigour of which I was capable, and tried to make my presence known, it was of no avail. I passed over them, by them, around them, between them, even through them — that is to say, their sitting figures' immovable passed through my incorporeal spirit as I flew— but all that I could do had not the slighest effect in making, an indignant quondam husband's presence known. I raved, I stormed, with equal absence of result. I, in spirit, stamped my unsubstantial foofc upon fcho floor, with no other consequence than to cause, as fche penalty of contact with the lower world, a semi-paralysis to shoot through my vaporous frame. I was mad ; for do what I would, their loving, pernicious prattle went on, and I heard things eaid of myself more wicked and n unfair than hitherto I had conceived could find place within the breast even of fche untutored savage. Fortunately afc fchis -c moment I remembered that Ambergis had informed me of our possession of one power for evil. It was a matter, in truth, in whioh I should not havo required instruction. In our spirit-existence knowledge of our attributes comes intuitively. Wo cannot indeed make ourselves known to the living ; but we q can, should we choose, and -vhich in certain "1 cases is perhaps preferable, make ourselves l: intensely disagreeable By placing itself directly above a mortal with whom in S life it has been intimate, and by flapping its wings briskly seven times whilst uttering the mystic pyramidal abracadabra, a spirit can 7. cause tho one so operated on to become „, instantly bufc completely hypochondriacal, d The terrible nature of this punishment hardly requires explanation. Loss of a limb is dreadful. Loss of a love is, for the time bi being, worse. Loss of fortune is a calamity n< not to be overtopped, according to my expe- 0] rience, by loss of life itself. But these three ai things, unpleasant as they may be, are human j n ills insignificant in comparison wifch that w estate to which they sometimes form the stepping-stones— the state of being hipped. It is needless to say that I could entertain no pc thought of harming my darling ; but upon of my rival I hastened to take this ample 8U revenge. I poised myself above him, un- pa pleasantly close to fcho coiling. I flapped my £j wings onco, twice, seven times. I uttered the w magic formula, and lo!— he informed my B -o widow that he never had felt half so well in f 0 his life; and imprinting a kiss upon only half-resisting lips, vowed thafc fchoy who could ta find anything but happiness in fchis sublunary L< existence, happiness day-long and life-long he Tt declared, must be wanting in the most ordinary perceptive faculties. The spell had failed ! It then flashed across my mind that there was a reason for thia disability. The %

Er*- ° f a r 6 ' 3 *^ 0 is P roof against our Wsfc as9au i ts *r fc has n^i e d that Amongst fchom was one displaying the potent chalcedony. My feel j o^^f me> Vith f««, ™? g >* unfortunately perfectly inaudible to fche faithless pair, I turned and f P ? E w H P ATI ° N ~? ow r £ aßsed «"> next few hours of my spirit .*& i cannot clearly Si'-,*. T t fchl ' cu S ]i s Pace, rushing past friends and strangers without heed, and gaining rather indifferent character in the upper world on the score of manners. But whafc at such a moment, after my experiences, was character or anything else to me! I presume fchafc at length, poised in vacancy, I fell into our d ■ Mrless spirit-slumber. For I was awakened by a gentle respiration afc mv side, and turning, found fchat I was in our own bed-room at Cadogan-placc ; my form, fiery no longer, comfortably wrapped hi blankets ; and Geraldine, the beautiful and true, tranquilly slumbering by my side. What could this mean ? Where had I been Quring fche past two months? I awoke Geraldine, and inquired if had not been ill for a very long time. " 111 ?" she asked ; " for s long time ? Are you dreaming, Algy ? All I can tell you is that you have been mos* restless throughout the night. You pr-bably drank more than usual, for I found the sherry decanter empty. And you. certiinly did nofc behave like my own Algernon. For you wero not only very rude to ny last night at Lady Calmly's, but you di* nofc even sib up for me, so tliat I miglt forgive you, you old goose." They would havcifc that all had been bufc a dream. It has not been possible to name the matter either to Geraldine or Charley on account of tho oosurd suspicion that points to tbem. I did mcc try to reveal the circumstances to unck Fred ; bufc before the story was fairly commenced the good old fellow laughed so heartily thafc I feared ho would have a fit. Sf I kept the secrcfc in my own bosom. The current of our daily lives flows smoothly. JUartindale is as much my friend and our companion as ever, and we aro happy. Bufc I ponder on my experiences. And sometimes, when thinking of the blissful state that -raits us in the future, its exemption frow all care— at sucli a moment it seem as if, like the incarcerated of Chillon, even I have regained my freedom with a. sigh.