LITERATURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4506, 3 October 1882, Page 4

LITERATURE.

♦ A SUBE SHOT: AN IBI3H STORY OF THE PBESENT HOUB. (London Society.) (Continued.) The night was dark, bufc without rain ; yet Were there signs of ooming storm and disturb»noe on the horizon, where a black mass cf tiiouda lay like a seal on th.i sotting ■un and ita glory. When tho evening of the bright day had closed in, the family of thd Murtagha gathered round a peat fire, and wooed its warmth ua it' a premonitory ohill had brought them nearor winter. Luke and tho threo boys had only just returned from a prolonged tramp over a neighbouring mountain ; and, whatever had been the objeot of the ramble, its moet noticeable effects were a mudded state of tho outer j garments and a decided cloudine.o of fcho tempor. " Now, Luke man, what's over ye?" the wifo began, aa ahe took a stool opposito to her husband; "isn't it a good job that we're by our own sod of turf ulill, an' that ye paid tho rint tho day ?" " 1 pay it ?" he cried out, with an oath ; " don't ye daur to tell fchafc lio ! 'Twua yersolf as done it, an' yo may take tho luck ifc brings ye." *' Thin yer a coward, Luko 1" said Bos>c, roused up to wrath on her side ; "yo lave the work on my hands, an' make eff yerself." " An' was it to plazo you or meself 1 was the like fool ?" he returned ; " I should ha' held out ;. I know that ; but yo talked me out of Bight an' rayeon." " Into it iB moro the fit of the truth ; I wisht I'd nevor stepped intilthe same plaoe ; it's an eaay time I'd have had of it, an' no call to worry, if you hadn't a come | bothorin' me." Themanhadarotortonhislipß, when something stopped it. Ifc was nofc fche wail of the wind, whioh had risen ominously within the last half hour, but a sound more akin to a yell. Luke and Bose sprang simul- | taneously to thoir feet. " It's oome ! " cried the former ; " tho ourso is on us alroady ,- *twern't long in the brewin," an' well I knowed it tbis minute. Lay n. hoult on the ohilder, Rene, an' if tho door's bet in pufc thorn out of the back windy. They has faßfc legs ; and so as mo wee Kitty can mako off, 'twill bo a blow tho less on u*l" There was no vain terror, no exaggerated emotion, in the quick outburst. None know batter than Luko Murtagh himself how awift and sure can bo the vengeanoe which i. the outoome of a popular frenzy. He had beon too long ono of a fraternity that opposed itself abovo all things to law and Bubmissivenoss to fall away lightly from its allianoe. There was a pause tor a moment now. Husband and wife lis tened breathlessly. That stillness ensued whioh in a ooming crisis bodes only cvil — "the calm before the storm." Bose had grasped the man's arm. " All is, quiet again, .Luke," murmured Eose afc length ; " mayhap we were mistaken." " Tush, woman !" and Luke shook off her hold, as he made a step nearer to the door ; "d'ye think I'm deaf or daft?" 8000 Baid nothing; but the pulsations were warmer at her heart, and, quick to fear or to hope, the last sensation was gaining strength anew. The ohildren were not yet asleep, and there was a stir from one of them now. 'The eldest of the boya had leaped up in his bod, j and at tho aame instant he uttered a loud ' ory. It waa not of fright, rather of joy. "Daddy, oome quick. Look, look !" he exolaimod. Bose and the fathor rushed in, and flaw through the little curfcainloao window at the foot ol the settle-bed a bright red light, whioh made roseate fche room, the eager faoe of the ohild, and tho heavens without. The woman flung up her arms. " Tlio rick's on fire," Bho screamed ; " the wintor hay's a-burning ; iviry soreed of it. Savo us alive, but we'ro kilt intirely 1 " Luko's eyes grew bloodshot as ho gazod. He oould do nothing for a moment but mutter curaea between liis teeth ; while Bobo, wringing her hands, gavo yent to piercing lamonts of hor own. "Oh, daddy, ain't ib grand ? Ib it rally tho rick ? " murmured Kitty. "Ay, an ! it'll bo the oatsnaxt —the bit o' broad out of yer own mouth, my lamb ! " and breaking down atthe words tho man literally sobbed aloud. Bose had her energies moro under oommand. Angor, with her, rose above dismay. " Don't ye give wiy, Luko!" Bhe cried; "let's out, man, and see whafc can bo done. Tho cow shed may catoh nezt." Tho thought of tho hoifer oulf and beautiful brindled oow, that milked down her eighteen quarts a day, pufc to flight tho last touoh of panic for tioso. She rushed forth j distractedly, followed, at a somewhat Blowor pace, by her husband. He seemed helplo.s in tho crisis, feoling bufc too surely that what was saved now would bo marked for ruin again. An arm was crippled in its power that was held hy tho honumbing influence of thia thought, and his oxortions wero Blow and •orrowf ul. Tho four littlo ones, in their bare legs and feot, were tenfold more notivo ; und Boao, for onco in hor life, felfc their presence a hoon, when they Bot buckets of wator afloat in tho yard, amid encouraging erica, vied with ono another in the rough readiness with whioh the peat-stack was overturned and borne away in armaful to safer quarters ; whilo a slash from the broomstick, hold by tho oldest Urchin, sont tho oow and calf scampering like wild firo to the nearest field. Somo weoka had pasaod away. There was brightness in Xillavel Houbo, wbioh wao something moro than a arailo from Nature. Honora's otcp was gay and buoyant, and her wholo aspeofc had undergone a ouange. With her hand olasped iv thafc of Hugh Carolan, she oould feel steadfastness and trußt ; oho oould look down thoviata of coining years and let light prevail, see ail through the beams of hopefulneso. At last ahe was to bo hia, and without her father's love being separated by ths aot. Thus, everything of joy was added to her lot — nought withdrawn or woakened. 'Tho recent notion of Carolan had pleasod Oolonel Wyldo. Ho was a martinet himaolf in deeds and discipline, and could approve of promptitude and resolution in others. If Hugh Carolan found no now tenants for hia farms, ho who at loaat their sole owner, without dispute or hindrance, and the colonel prophesied great things from a capablo management. '' Oot a second B toward," ho aaid, " buy up young atock afc all fche neighbouring fairs, and boo if thoy don't bring you in pretty apeedy roturna," That suoh a oourse demanded, in the first instance, a considerable amount of capital, and furthermore, that graßS-lands, roady laid down, did not prevail ovory whoro, the colonol aoarcely paueed to calculate Matters so long stagnant were at length in train ; and the mere oxcitemont of motion ministered to hia gratification. In acoordance with tho prevailing atato of things, a wedding was only a fitting festivity, and he allowed Honora's marriage to be fixed for a near dato. Ifc waß tho evo of that day now. Servanta wero astir in the home attending to proliminiary dooorationa ; but the brido- eleot herself sat in the bowwindow of the drawing-room, too happy to do aught but think, borne away too far into the traot of dreamland to see or heod tho movemante of commonplace life. She scarcely started, a flush only of the deepest carmine rose to her oheok, when, roused by footsteps whioh had crossed tho carpet unheard, she found that Hugh Carolan was beside her. Bhe had not expeoted him ; bufc he was too visible in her thoughts to make his actual Sresonco a surprise ; and it was only whon or heart had yielded to ita first emotions of delight that a question oame. "But how is ifc you are hero, dearest ? I thought you told me you had business at Ballymourno to-day, and that I must not be disappointed if I did not ace you ?" Hugh looked a littlo pale, thoro was a oertain norvousness almoat in hia aapoct ; but a amilo whioh he Bummonod to his aid hid evory thing but lovo from the eyes he waa gaising into. "I am going immediately," he answered ; " but it was not very far out of the way to oome to Killavel first, and you Iccow I am always self-indulgent." If she knew something olso with still moro assuranoe— thafc he was always thoughtful of tier— Honora was not visitod by a shado of uneasiness. Presently Carolan drew a littlo paoket from hii pocket, and tho goldon oirolot whioh was soon to be brought koto uio was produced from a paper wrapping. "I ought to know the sizo of tnis doar hand," ho said, withdrawing the engagement ring from Honora's finger and putting tho wedding one in iti place ; «*but 1 may as well mako conviction doubly .certain. Ifc is juit the fit, is if. not? Don't chango boforo to-morrow und bocomo thinner, or tho revorae." "Am I so naprieiotiß, Hugh ?" " No, no ; but thoro is a sort of magic in thflco fairy hoops, and you mutt bo a match for it. Tnl km-; thus "lightly, Hugh parsed 89Ri>> happy i'- "aonta ; tben fcho leave-taking had lo coiiitv Ho prcas^d her clo?or, yot cloo.»r, to hiiri. .md a d>?ap brcnth, :i!moat n aii'h, oscuped his lips. Homoia riuight it, and hor owu heart gave a throb whicli had tho etwng puliation of fear. Hull '•.-(•;.- ulq; her-

b elf, ahe sought to meet the glance of his eyes; but ho avoided her quiok questioning look, and this in itßelf awoke keener alarm. "Oh Hugh, what is it ?" she cried ; " something baß gone wrong. Toll me ! tell me 1" He was smiling once more. "My fanoiful ohild, what have I said or done ?" he exclaimed ; " may I not ki.s you, again and again, and not bo called to account ?" and he renewed his last caresseas ; " do you want me to grow cold suddenly ? Would that soom to yon all right— this all wrong ? Now I must really bo off. My businoss is moat important ; I havo lot a farm 1 Think of that, Honora 1 And the leaaaa aro to bo signod to-day at Ballymourne." Still, thera was a dreadstrange, inexpressible ; but it clung to her loving woman's thoughts — it was a warning voice calling louder than all elso in her%ar. " Hugh, you must not go ! " Bho broko out ; " not till you tell me everything. Is there danger, is there enmity amongst the poople— the tenants who wore evioted ? " " Well, I suppose they are not too greatly pleased," said Hugh lightly; "but what of that? You Baid onoo, my darling, that I had the good will of every one. If I lost it because I acted in accordance with right and reason, I don't think it was worth much— too little to oause trouble to mo or you." "But they have not threatened you? There is no plot of revenge thought of ? " Her eager eyes wore fixed on him. He followed tho only course possible— he took her partly into his oonfidenco. "My own love, I don't say I have been uneasy," he murmured ; " but others would fain have made me so. Cowardice is not much of a weapon ; it is this I have to deal with. Menace loses half its foroewhen it is uttered j and to make mo fear seems the chief object of it at present. I won't do that. Don't tell me lam wrong, then ! " "Oh Hugh, has it been thus ? And you never let me know! I have been bo happy j my father was pleased and assured. All seems woll ! " " And is it not so still? What is thore amiss, deareßt ? We start to-morrow for an absence of some months. When we come back all will be serene in spring sunshine. I shall have a few new tenants. There is the wholo ohange." The mention of the morrow sent a rapid thrill through her. Her face was no longer bo deadly pale. Sbe raised her bead from his shoulder, and ogam questioned him with her beautiful oyes. The tears which had started to thorn but added to their lustre, tho whole love of her heart seomed to lie in their depths and lend to them the irresistible power of tenderness and entreaty. "Hugh 1 Hugh If lam foolieh, do not you be foolharday," ehe murmured ; "who is going with you to Ballymourne to-day? You are not driving alone?" "No, no, I am riding," he saidj "Bed Pepper carrios me swifter than any two-wheoler. And do you know I am rather late? My appointment is for throe o'clock. I shall have to hasten ; and with a last hurried good bye he went out so quickly that she could not at&y him. Ke had left his horse at the stable-yard on arriving ; but the groom wbb leading him up and down bow in front of the house, nnd in an instant Carolan had leaped into the saddle, and juat letting tho bridle looso on Bed Pepper's neck; "-"was borno off in a canter. Suddenly he stopped, and tho animal, pulled up so abruptly, fell baok on his hsunohes. Its rider had begun a oonfusod search in his waistcoat pockets. Ho had forgotten tbe wedding-ring, and onoe assured of tbis faot, ho beckoned to the groom and sprang instantly to the ground. At the moment Honora was soen on the steps of the portico, and sbe ran towards bim. She had found what he missed, and there was one last exohango of stnilea ere he had again mounted and loft her. The fiery Bteed was in a state of impatience by this time that brooked no furthor curb. He revenged himself for the delayed departure hy a wild race of his own ; and if Carolan had wished to made up for any loßt moment by preaent spoed, Bed Pepper took charge of that matter and saved him any exhibition of urgenoy on his own acoount. Honors stood gazing after him. Her gaze had been fixod do Bteadfaßtly on the figure of Hugh thafc it wa? withdrawn with difficulty from the vista in the long avenue of lime trees, where it had faded from her viow. As ber glance firsfc foil on nearer objoots she started slightly at seeing that tho groom wus close by her aide, and that he was presenting something to hor. A mere scrap of papor it appeared. It waa creased and rumplod like that which had enveloped fche ring, -and sho took ifc carelessly from the man. "Mr Carolan dropped ifc, miss, as he jumped off tho horso. I found ifc on the gravel by the roadway when he had galloped on." Ifc was the wrapping of fche ring, she still thought, and, just holding ifc absently in her grasp, sho ro-entered fcho house. As she wao crossing the hall a servant met hor, her own maid, who was beariug something aloft wifch groab care. Ifc was the bridal dress, whioh had juflfc boon sont home, and the young mistress was callod upon to examine and admire. Tho gloßsy folds of the 6atin wero displayed, dtaped with airy wreaths of laco and Capo jesßamino, and the sweefc loveliness of hopo came back to Honora's face as her visions took thoir colouring once moro from the snowy garb and what ifc intiaated. To paBB the time Bho went out very soon aftorwards to the gardons, wbiob, even in their late autumnal looks, had a beauty of their own. Presently she left tho enclosed preoincto and followed the wood- path tbat led to the little postern gate oponing on the high road. It waa hore she had often mot Hugh Carolan, as it was his nearest way from Koxtnounfc, and evory epot of tho grouud was f ul\ of memoriea for her. Bhe otaried when a curve takon in the path brought her in viow of an advancing figure. (To bo continued).