LITERATURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6313, 10 August 1888, Page 1

LITERATURE.

A BITJ^LACE. (Concluded.) Not very long after this, Mrs Pulteney was called upon by a young man of good appearance and unassuming manners, •whom she presented to her husband a3 Mr Halstone, saying she had accidentally met him in the street, that he was an old Lanoa9hiro acquaintance, and that she had asked him to Portman square. If Mr Pulteney had been more observant or lesa absorbed in hia own pursuits — not very much changed, it must be confessed, from those of his bachelor day— he would have noticed that Mr Halstone was not only a constant guest at his house, but that Phoebe took unusual paina to introduce him to every one of their friends, and to win for him the entree of even those houses in which she was by no means familiar. Yet although the young man appeared to exercise a singular influence over her, and to obtain her almost devoted attention, she seemed in no way anxious to monopolise his, and was more nervously uneasy about his social success than proud of his homage. " You know Lady Parkins, do you not ?" said Mr Halstone one oveniDg to Mrs Pulteney, when he had, aa was his wont, contrived to secure a few moments' private conversation with her after a dinnerparty. "Yes— at least Mr Pulteney does, I believe." " I must be asked to this ball on the 28bh."

" Impoßsible ! " " I think not. A man who may be usefalto me will be theife. Let me have a card by the end of the week." Fhoabe clasped her hands and looked up imploringly. "Indeed, I cannot," she said. "My husband is hardly intimate enough with Sir Edward, and would not think of taking such a liberty with Lady Parkina." Mr Halstone smiled. "Nevertheless, you will procure my invitation, I feel convinced." Then still reading a denial in her eyes', he bent a little forward and said significantly, in a lower tone still, "You have never worn your point lace again, Mrs Pulteney." Phoabe became very pale. "Give me time," she faltered. " I will try." Mr Halstone was afc Lady Parkins' party 5 but Mrs Pulteney suffered from a severe headache, which kept her at home for several days. Towards the close of the season, Aunt Betsy having been asked by Mr Pulteney to Bpend a week in Portman square, a dinner was given in her honour, more solemn and formal even than, usual, to be followed by an equally solemn and formal party, including all Mr Pulteney's friends. Mr Halstone, who had not been bidden to the dinner, came very late in the evening, and waa still standing by the door when Phoabe came up to him with, the startled, half-frightened expression hia presence always evoked. "Who is that old lady sitting by the window ? " he asked abruptly. "My aunt, Miss Cosham* I suppose I must take you up to her," she said, wearily. "No, no," hurriedly interrupted Mr Halßtone. "In fact, I am going." Phoabe's face changed. "How glad you are ! " he Baid, looking down upon her half in anger, half in pity. " Good night." As Phcebe turned, she saw her aunt attentively watching her with an ominous frown that in her girlish days always foreboded a storm.

Misa Coßbam bided her time, and as soon as she was alone with her niece the next morning addressed her with severity. "Phoebe," Bhe said, "I never thought much of Mr Pulteney*s descent or his connections ; bub there are limits to all things, and I do not consider that you are bound to entertain counter-jumpers, even if they are his friends." " What do you mean, auntie ? " faltered Phoabe. "The man you were speaking to last night in your own drawing-room Berved in the shop of Winston's at Preston years ago, and I saw him in the lace department of Pluah and Mechlin's last summer. Ha is not fit company for you. Too bad of Joseph Pulteney to have him in his house —too bad 1" Phoebe remained silent. " You must not receive him any more ; and if you are afraid to tell your husband bo, I will," said the dauntless spinster. "0, don't, aunt, don't!" cried Mrs Pulteney in terror. " Indeed, it is not Joseph's fault ; he did not ask him here." " Who did ?" a3ked Miss Betsy sternly. Phcebe hung her head. "There is something very queer in this. Now look you, Phcebe, you are a married woman, and I don't w&nt to breed ill-will between husband and wife, but I will not eit by and Bee a girl I brought up behave unbecomingly ; so either you send that fine gentleman to the roundabout, or I speak to Mr Pulteney and tell him who he is." " 0 aunt," said Phoebe desperately, " I cannot send him away !" Miss Betsy Coshamroae majestically and moved to tho door. "I ask no further questions— l refuse to hear more — I am afraid to understand; but if that man darkens these doors again, to Joseph Pultenoy I go ;" and the scandalised old xnai'l swept out of the room.

The following day, at dußk, Mrs Palteney was -walling slowly in the moat secluded part of Kensington Gardens. Prf senfcly a man appeared, wlio joined her, and in silence walked on beside her. Seeing that she did not speak, he began coldly after a pause : " You wired that you wished to meet me hero alone 5 I came." " Yes," answered Mrs Puiteney, -with difficulty steadying her voice. " This can go on no longer. I cannot live under this odioua .thraldom— you muat go away," she added do3perately. " Go nwa.y P '* repeated HaTefcone. «<y c3 — anywhere — wherever you choose —provided it iB far enough 5 for now it is impossible that you should return to Portman ermare, or to any of tho houses where— »-L • — T— " " Where jou introduced me." Tho yonng man quietly suggested the word. " Are you aware of what you bblc ? Do you think I shall quietly relinquish the position lam making for myßelf, and at the very moment when I am seeing a clear way to it ? I have had the offer through the pat ronage 0 1 your i riends— tti rough yours — of a situation in Norson'a Hank, and you quietly nsk me to relinquish all tbiß. "No ! " he added bitterly 5 " I have been wild, reckless, foolish enough, long ago, but never quite bo mad as that. Besides," ho continued, recovering, " this iB not our bargain." "Our bargain !" said Phcebo wildly. ' Was I aver n willing party to it ? Did •on not cruelly use your power over me ? tfever say I agreed to these machinations ; ihey wero forced upon me. And now your learly-bcught silence will avail nienothng, unlcas you go — unless you leavo me «nd London for evev." r Hu looked at her flushed and troubled ,ace. A strange shadow passed over her. 'You revile and upbraid me," he said. -* Have Ino excuse ? Remember the citaiuiHkances." Phoebe trembled violently. He coninutd: " a. fair, elegant young woman cornea to or lace counter, bargains for a bit of ostly l&cie, does not buy it, returns a few toys later, auks for it again, handles it, eaitfttea, and, when she thinks heraclf mobserred, slips it under the fold« of her •antle and leave^tbe-elreiwmm^leßted."

"How often have I not told you that I intended returning the wretched thing after the ball ? how often have I entreated you to take it back yourself ? " "If another of the assistants had seen what I alone saw/ continued the young man, disregarding the interruption, "he would have had the lady followed, jierliapa searched — if only to screen himself, for tbe customera might remember that we are responsible for the goods in our department. J let you go ; but was I, who ran the risks, to lose the chance thus thrown in my way, to recover by your agency, a little of my lost status and consideration? I staked my all on that venture. I have succeeded so far." Heavy tearß of shauie and contrition fell from. Phoebe's eyes under her veil. Neither of the two strange companions spoke. " Very well," said Mrs Pulteney at last, with forced composure, " I have decided : I refuse to be your accomplice— your slave any longer. I shall go to my husband and tell him the whole shameful truth. It will bow his pride to the duet to know that his wife was — a—a— shoplifter;" she said the word with bitter loathing. "He will send me back to my father, I suppose ; but anything is better than this life. It is more fit that he should hear it from me than listen to my aunt's suspicions. I only regret that I ever consented to screen my guilt by becoming your tool. We meet no more. Good-bye." Mrs Pulteney moved away in the direction of the gates. Halstoneßtood irresolute for an instant ; then overtook her with, a few hasty strides. "One moment," he said hurriedly. "Take no further steps to-night. Tomorrow act as you think best." He looked at her pale face earnestly, half extended his hand, dropped it suddenly, lifted his hat, and left her. The next morning's post brought Mrs Pulteney a sealed letter. She drew from the envelope two papers. The first was a note that ran thus : " You are in no danger whatever, as the enclosed will show. I told you I had staked my all. I now add that I have lost. I wrote to refuse the situation at the Bank of Norson Brothers, and sail for Australia in three days." Half-a-dozen words had been hastily scratched out, and there was nothing else save the initials " J. H." Phoebe opened the enclosure. It was a receipted bill, with the heading of "Plush and Mechlin," for the sum of twenty- one pounds, dated April 27, and signed for the firm by John Hahtone. The note and the receipt were in the same handwriting. It was on the April 27, that Phcebe had appropriated the point lace. She breathed a deep sigh of relief, and, hearing her husband's step outside, hastily tore up both papers and threw them in the fireplace. Perhaps if che had taken time to decipher the scratched-out words of Halstone's note she might have read, " I have learned to love you. Farewell !"