CHAPTER VII.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1629, 5 October 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER VII.

SIR HUGH AND ATItNOII OPEN THEIR GAM'S.

i During the next fow weeks of hor life i Ethel might have believed th«t she was i suddenly endowed with a fairy godmother, whoso chief pleasure it Avas to minister to her peculiar fancies. The pony, a beautiful bay, with a skin like satin, and long flowing innno, plaited with scarlet ribbons, bearing a siddle with embroidered housings of the same color, and gayly decornted bridle, was led to the door on her birthday morning ; at the same hour a mysterious box made its appearance in her loom, from which was drawn a complete outfit for the young equestrian. A fine cloth habit, embroidered with gold, and a cap with long white plumes floating to her shoulders. There was also a small riding-whip, with an inlaid handle, and a pair of fairy gauntlets, ornamented to match the dress. The wild delight of the child, as each article Avas successively exhibited, amused and surprised Mrs. Methurn. She said : " These are beautiful gifs, Ethel ; but I ara afraid Sir Hugh must have taxed his means to afford them. I begin to think, my dear, that the material things to which I have sought to render you indifferent have great power to give you happiness." "Yes," replied Ethel, frankty. "These presents made me very happy, and I should be the most ungrateful of creatures if they did not. But I hope - Sir Hugh has not spent money for them ho cannct afford. Do you think he has done that, aunty ?" " I suppose not, my love, for Sir Hugh is not a man to embarrass himself to minister to the gratification of a child. He must have laid by something for this purpose from the sum annually paid by your grandfather. Ho seems fonder of you lately, and he told me last night that j in future he should regard you as his daughter." " Yes ; Vernor said he meant to adopt j me as such. My own relations care no- I thing forme, and but for Sir H«gh nnd yourself I must have been a poor, little, homeless wanderer. Dear annty, my heart is filled with gratitude to you both," and Ethel threw her arms .around Mrs. Methurn and kissed her many times. The voice of Vernor was heard from the hall below impatiently calling on Ethel to descend and mount her pony. Sh& hurried to don her riding gear and join him. She scarcely glanced fit herBelf in the old-fashioned mirror, though the unwonted brilliancy of hor appearance might have tempted an older person to linger a moment before it. But sho remembered Vernor's impatience, and she wa3 ofraid to delay a moment longer than was necessary. Vernor surveyed her approvingly, and lifted her to her saddle, as he gayly said : " Titania on horseback, I declare. Ethel, the Dryads will be euvious of you

to-day. Sir Hugh must see the effect of your outfit ; let ua rifle paat bis winapwu and salute him." He sprang into hla own saddle, and taking the reins of her pony, led him to the side of the house in which Sir Hugh's chamber was situated, ne was sitting beside the open window, and \vben Ethel called out to him he smiled, and said : " You are pleased with your birthday present, then, my dear ?' j "Pleased ! Oh, that is a poor word. lam enchanted. You could not liava given mo anything else I should have liked half so well." " Then I am satisfied, Lady-Bird, for I only wished to gratify you." " Dear Sir ll ugh, what have I done to deserve all this kindness ?" '" You have been a bright and happy little sprite to us all, Ethel, and in future you will be more to us than you have ever been. Take your ride, and be as happy, my child, as I wished to make you." There was a tone of paternal tenderness in his voice Avhich deeply touched the little girl, for Sir Hugh was a consummate actor when he had anything to gain by playing a part. Vernor touched the pony lightly with his riding Avhip, and they cantered away under the shadow of the old trees, the flickering sunlight flashing at intervals over the gorgeous dress of the young rider. Ethel had practiced riding a little under Gerald's tuition, nnd sho soon gained confidence enough to manage her pony herself. He seemed perfectly gentle, and her fears Avere soon sufficiently allayed to permit her to prattle to her companion with the freedom and vivacity of her years. Vernor had no cause to lose his temper, and they made the circuit of the woodland, and came in sight of the gipsy's camp. " Shall we ride toward the camp ?" ho asked. "Oh, no; I am afraid of those Avild people. Let us keep as far from them as possible." A discordant laugh arose from a thicket near which the pair had halted, and a voice which botli recoguized as that of the Gipsy Queen Baid : •' Ha ! ha ! danger from 113 you need not fear, little butterfly ; bub it is near you; your evil fate rides by your side, and I bid you beware of him. The dark shadow in your line of lifo which I would not tell you of when we last met is settling over you. Poor little dove ! where shall she find shelter when the hawk is making ready to pounce upon her?" The woman issued from her coverfc, and stood directly in their path. Vernor angrily spoke : " Move aside, and leave your warnings to thoss that fear them. How daro you speak thus to this young' l.idy ?" "It ia a very tiny young lady," ropliedthe gipsy, mockingly. "I should call her a baby, but since she is decked out thus some good fortune must have come to her. Something for nothing is I not your father's motto, nor yet yours, young sir. Little girl, you were born to bright fortunes ; do not mar them by giving a bad man power OA T er you. I see that evil threatens you ; evil that will culminftte in woe in time to # como if you do not heed my warning. Ethel had grown very pale, and she faintly said : "Pray, get cut of my path. Let us ride on." '* Ho, you fear me, and yet you would lido away with one who has more power over your fate for evil than is exercised by the imps of the Inferno. Go on, then, but the day will come in which you will recall my words in anguish and bitterness 5 of heart." She stepped aside, and Vernor, after casting a threatening glance upon her, rode rapidly forward, again grasping the niiale rein of his young companion. When they were out or sight of the encampment, l;e slackened their pace, and ea'd : "That woman has some strange grudge 1 against my father, and she hntcs me been use lam his sou. Do not heed her words,. Ethel, for they were only dictated by malice.' * " Yet it is said that these people claim the power to read the future." " Do not then bcliovo that JavouW become your evil fate ?'' he reproachfully asked. "No, no; there indeed she must be mistaken. I will not think of what she said, for I do not believe it." "No, Ethel, you must, not give credence to her idle words, for you will soon find that I intend to become your best friend. Sir Hugh has lately come in possession of quite a large Buni of money, and ho has made me a munificent present. Out of that he bought your beauiiful pony, and j from mmc lam going to give you somej thing else you will like." j The child laughed, then checking herself, she gravely said : " The pony is quite enough, Vernor. You will have a use for all your money for yourself." '• But it pleases me to use a portion of it for your gratification. I tell you this, that when pietty things come to you, you may know who is the giver. But you have not named your dainty steed yet, Lady-Bird. "What shall Aye call him?" "Lightfoot," she quickly replied, "for he scarcely seems to touch the ground aa he skims over it." "Ha, by my faith, a pretty taste you have in names, Lightfoot merits his cognomen, if ever pony did. Now,~'let us canter to the Priory, and show Aunt Agnes how you have profited by your equestrian lesson." Ethel gathered the bridle in hfT small hand, and they swept rapidly forward. Sir Hugh and Mrs. Methurn wero both near hall-door, watching for their return. During the absence the lady had been vainly endeavoring to' discover the origin of Sir Hugh's sudden change toward her pro'd^e. Thai both the baronet and his sox\ were moved by some motive which was sedulously concealed from her, Mrs. Methurn felt convinced; but, for the present, she found her brother-in-law impenetrable. Ho only assured her that it had long been his intentiun to place Ethel in the position of an adopted daughter, and the savings he had made enabled him to indulge in the extravagances which so much surprised her. Sir Hugh furthermore added that ho had resolved to fit up an apartment for ; Ethel's especiiil usp, and he had I ordered the furnituro from London. i Mrs. Methurn listened in silent astonishment, convinced that beneath this liberality lay some deep desigu in which ' the fate of her protdge* was implicated.

She quietly asked if Col. Clifton was dendj nnd "ESthel the next in succession to her grandfather's estate, that sach changes were to be made in her favor. In reply, Sir Hugh assured ho* that Col. Clifton was living, and likely to live many years yet. That he had reasons for the changes he Jmrditated, which he made known to his Bist-r-in-law ; for the present, he only asked her to allow her | young charge more freedom than usual, that she might bo more of a companion to Vernor. The absence of Gerald was the reason assigned for this, but Mrs. Methnrn knew that only to Ethel was his departure a cause of regret, for Vernor had evidently regarded the presence of her son more as a restraint than a pleasure. That evening, on going into her room, Ethel found an elegant work-box fitted up in the most costly and beautiful manner. This was Vernor's birthday present, and beßide it lay a pin-cushion worked by Mrs. Methurn, and a copy of verses written by Gerald. Over the last she shed a few tears, but they were soon wiped away to plunge into the recesses of the box, and bring out the various feminine treasures it contained. These filled her with delight ; but the crowning joy of all was a case fitted in the centre of the box, which, on being opened, displayed a parure of sparkling rubies Bet with the simplicity suited to one of her tender years. Mrs. Methurn watched her rapturous delight, and she was filled with disquietude as to the meaning of this sudden change toward the child who had been rather tolerated than welcome at the Priory. Jn a few more days the furniture which had been ordered arrived. The walls of a large room adjoining Mrs. Methurn's were covered with rose silk hangings, and a set of heavily carved furniture, which was a receat fashion imported from France, was arranged within it. Everything was very grand, and Ethel moved about in this stately apartment looking more childliko than ever, but Bhe unconsciously began to feel a new sense of importance in the attentions lavished on her. Yernor dexterously mado her believe that the change was due to him, and her young heart began to cling to him with as much tenderucs3 as she had once for Gerald. A beautiful wardrobe next arrived, j filled with articles which a yonng princess might have worn, and the exquisite emI broidery and fine laces with which the clothing was adorned increased Mrs. Methurn'a astonishment at the sudden caprice of Sir Hugh to elevate the hitherto neglected little waif into a person of such importance. She could not penetrate the mystery, yet it filled her with unGa'dnoss na to his roal intentions to- ! ward the child of her affections. Vernor was using every art to ingrnti.ato himself with Ethel, and with deep pain Mr?. Methurn saw that her artless ai'daffuctiomtenature wasstrongly impressed by his ncv/ly-awakened interest in her affairs.

(To he Continued.)